Athma Speaks

Penang National Park, Penang, Malaysia

2011-12-17T07:06:00.000+08:00

This happens to be my first hike along a coastal line... And, just like every other 'first' in life, this one was lovely.

Penang Island lies on the north eastern coast of Malaysia. Penang National Park is one of the smallest national parks in the world. The good part is that each of the trails ends in a beach !! After a tough day's hike, all you need is a dip in a scarcely populated beach.

In terms of planning, this hike was exactly like every other 'regular' hike done by me. Everything right from transport to stay to registration was pre-planned. So, here was the plan:

Friday
1000 PM: Leave Singapore for Sungai Nibong (Penang)

Saturday
730 AM: Arrive Sungai Nibong
930 AM: Arrive Weld quay, take bus 101 to Teluk Bahang
1030 AM: Start hike at Penang National Park
530 PM: Back to guest house

Sunday
900 AM: Back to National Park to complete other trails
400 PM: Take the bus back to Weld quay
730 PM: Return bus for Singapore

Monday
730 AM: Arrive Singapore and go to office !

I am realizing that this itinerary would resemble that of most of the hikes that i plan to undertake in South Asia - Except a few tough ones which might need more time.

Everything went on track and I completed the 4+4 km hike to the light house on Day 1. I had underestimated the effort required - it was much more exhausting than i had anticipated. Humidity was the killing factor because almost the entire trail runs along the beach. Here are some snapshots of the trail to light house.

The entrance of Penang National Park

Well marked trails

Some nice resting spots !

Good views along the hike

The Lighthouse

At the top of Lighthouse

Coastline from the lighthouse

Beautiful views from the lighthouse

The next day, I started early and completed the hike to Kerachut beach. If you start really early, right when the park opens, you can have the beach all for yourself for quite some time. By the time i reached Kerachut, there were less than 10 people on the whole beach..

Lake crossing just before the beach

Meromictic Lake (Lake with different layers of Fresh water and Sea water)

Kerachut beach - Almost noone present early in the morning!!

Kerachut beach is famous for 'nesting turtles' (only specific times of the year)

Turtles routinely visit Kerachut for nesting. This happens only during specific months - However, I was told that camping is restricted at this beach year round. So, I am not sure if you can see them even during the nesting season.

I left the beach post noon so as to spend the afternoon in Georgetown before heading back to Singapore later in the evening.

I would love to come back to Penang to do Penang Hill.. I could not attempt it this time.

Trip specifics:

Singapore - Penang (Sungai Nibong): Many operators ply this route (about 70 SGD for a return ticket) - it takes about 10-11 hours depending on the traffic.

Sungai Nibong - Teluk Bahang: Take bus no 401 to weld quay (every 30 mins b) and then 101 to Teluk bahang (every 15-20 mins)

Budget stay: I stayed at Fisherman's guesthouse - costs about 18 Ringgit for a night. This is as simple as it can get - just a small room for yourself - shared bath/washroom - no a/c. Despite being small, the room was clean. Finding this place might be challenging - Take right just before the park - walk for about 5 mins - keep watching on the right for a small sign board. There is no pre-booking - you have to try your luck.

Where to Eat: I had all my meals at Mom and Pop's cafe - Lovely food - Great hospitality. This is right at the entrance of the park - You will like it.

Up next: Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand (Last week of Jan 2012)

Mt Gede - Gede-Pangrango National Park, Java, Indonesia

2011-11-12T18:51:00.001+08:00

It has been about a month since i have landed here in Singapore and having realized that there is not much i can do within this city, I decided to venture out into Indonesia. Indonesia has some wonderful volcanic peaks that are really enticing...

This hike has by far been the most spontaneous hike ever in my life.. There was no strong plan as has been the case with all my hikes in Canada and US. Madhav, my engg classmate, was in Jakarta and he offered to help me achieve my objective. So here I was, 5 days before the hike, without reservations, travel arrangements, park notfications. I decided to give it a shot with the following plan in mind.

Arrive Jakarta late friday night
Early Saturday morning - leave for trailhead.
Reach trailhead 10AM
Saturday night - Camp at Summit
Sunday evening return to Jakarta
Monday - Jakarta sight seeing
Tuesday morning - return flight to Singapore.

Not knowing what is to come, i assumed i would track to plan as i have in most of the hikes in the past. The journey starts with the first upset - Air Asia flight is delayed. I was able to reach Jakarta only by 130AM local time. On top of this, Madhav, who was supposed to drive me to trailhead was heavily drunk !! The only option was to postpone the hike by a day. We got up late Saturday morning and instead of heading to the trailhead early Sunday, we decided to go find a resort near by on saturday itself so that we can start hiking early on Sunday. It has been a while since i have travelled in a car in India-like environment and this ride was refreshingly pleasant.

Gudang Garam, the cigarette that is the starting point for most smokers in India

Snacks at traffic jams

We were beginning to see peaks at a distance

Madhav, my savior!

Agian, no reservations and we had no clue where we were going to stay. All we had was a 3G ipad which was put to optimal use. We found a resort called Bali Resort in Kota Bunga.

Late in the evening we had a nice full body genuine indonesian massage (it is not what you are thinking!) and I was all set for the hike next day.

We reached the national park at about 930AM and found the park to be locked. Then came a marine, who went in opened it from inside !!

Taman Nasional Gunung Gede Pangrango (Gede Pangrango National Park)

The twin volcanic peaks of Gede and Pangrango

The marine who helped us get in...

Apparently foreigners are mandated to hire a guide and a porter. You can negotiate if you can speak indonesian. But, since i had a ligament tear in my left shoulder i would not have been able to carry overnight camping gear anyways so we decided not to negotiate (Madhav knew a bit of Indonesian). We also met 3 dutch girls who were on a long vacation in Indonesia and were planning to do a 2hr hike on the same route - I offered to take them along till they wanted and they obliged. This way, even i would have company for the first 2 hrs..

Right before we started the hike

I asked the guide if we could stretch and cover both Gede and Pnagrango (Both are 9000ft+ and share the same trail half the way). He said that Pangrango is very risky in the rains and we should not attempt it. We were already into the wet season (Late Oct to Jan) and i too didnt want to take unwarranted risks. So we decided to wind up the hike with Gede only. The plan was to camp at Kadang Badak camp ground (7200Ft) and then do the last 2000ft early in the morning next day so as to witness sunrise at the summit.

There are some beautiful spots a day hike if you dont have time and resources for a 2 day hike.

Small lake before the waterfall

Waterfall

Closer view of the waterfall

The hike until waterfall is relatively simple and offers some good views. The trail starts gaining some serious elevation progressively. There is a hot spring before Kadang badak camp ground. This is the last spot for day hikers because the trail is pretty steep beyond this point right until the summit.

Vapors coming out of the hot spring

Lots of branches to play with!!

Closer look at the hot spring

This hot spring crossing can be tricky and risky under heavy rains...

Vegetation is dense all through the hike

My guide and I took a crucial call to reduce the length of hike the next day. We decided to camp at the summit rather than at the base camp (Camp ground Kadang Badak). The were some disadvantages of doing so:

Water is available at Kadang Badak but not at the summit

The summit can be really cold and there would be no protection from rain

We might not have company even if we need help...

But, we decided to go ahead so that we could spend more time on the summit the next day. It was already raining and there was not much we could do anyways.

Gede summit when i reached - No visibility at all. The fall from here is right into the center of the volcano crater !

I am not used to somebody else setting up camp and cooking food for me on hikes. Even when we travel in a group, all of us contribute towards something. Here, I was pampered with luxury. The tent was setup when my guide and I reached. Kitchen was setup and boiled water was made avialable for dinner. I kept reminding myself that I must not get used to this - else, i would have trouble when i hike on my own !

Fortunately, it cleared up the next day - we still could not see the sun rise though. Apparently, we were the only ones camping at the summit

The views were outstanding and we could see as far as Jakarta.

Gede Volcano Crater - it still spews smoke !

Pangrango visible in the background

Romy (Porter) and Isaf (Guide)

Video from the summit

The return hike was a much more relaxed downhill hike, through Suryakencana meadows to Gunung putri.

Suryakencana meadows

I could understand why they dont recommend hiking during rainy season

The view from Gunung Putri

Gede at the distance - From Gunung Putri

Just when i thought i had completed the hike, i realized that i still had a 31/2 hr journey back to Jakarta. Came back in a bus standing on one leg (there was only room for one leg - reminded me of mumbai local trains) for 2 hrs - luckily found a place to sit for the last hour or so.

After reaching Jakarta, i was taken for a ride by a taxi driver - paid him atleast double of what i should have paid. Anyways, all it does is adds more excitement to the trip !!

If you plan to make this hike, here is some information you will find useful:

How to get there:

There are multiple entrances to the park. Cibodas is the most popular entrance - There are frequent buses from Jakarta. I started the hike from Cibodas and exited at Gunung Putri

How much:

Jakarta - Cibodas - 15000-25000 Indonesian Rupees - 3.5 hrs

Porter - atleast 400,000 Indonesian rupees

Guide - atleast 400,000 Indonesian rupees

Rentals - all inclusive ~150,000 (Sleeping bag, tent, kitchen)

This being my first hike in this region, this will always be special !! Currently looking at some more interesting ones both in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Up next: Kota Kinabulu (Malaysia) in Feb/Mar

Mt Albert - Gaspesie National Park

2011-10-23T19:09:00.000+08:00

The 'Chic-Chocs' range has the highest mountains in Quebec. Gaspesie National Park has two of the highest peaks in the region - Mt Jacques Cartier and Mt Albert. Both of these extend well over 1000m and have some really challenging hikes. The trails are physically hard but not technically risky - Believe me, it is pure hard work completing circuits on either of these. These trails are part of the International Apalachian trail (International counterpart of the American Apalachian trail)

Gaspesie National Park is ~750Kms from Montreal and would easily take about 10 hrs by Car and ~12hrs by public transit. As I cut loose on exploration, I have increasingly felt handicapped without a car - It has seriously limited my movement. Nevertheless, I have not missed those with Public transit access !!

Montreal(A) to Gaspesie National Park(B)

I prepared an ambitious solo plan which involved ~1500Kms of bus travel, 17+kms of hiking and a short sleep at a small town near Gaspesie - All in less than 48hrs!! I have a better feel of my stamina (or lack of it!) these days, especially after this busy summer. I am also beginning to like solo hikes !

Here was the plan:

9 AM Saturday: Leave Montreal

9 PM Saturday: Arrive Sainte Anne Des Monts (Small town ~40kms from Gaspesie National Park)

8AM Sunday: Shuttle to Gaspesie National Park

930AM Sunday: Trail head - Mt Albert

5PM Sunday: Shuttle back to Sainte Anne Des Monts

8PM Sunday: Bus to Montreal

8AM Monday: Reach Montreal

The entire itinerary hinged on two key public transits - Bus to Ste Anne Des Monts & Once a day shuttle to Gaspesie National Park. I had to re-hash the whole itinerary when i figured out that the shuttle runs only once a day !

I reach Ste Anne Des Monts on time and checked in at the hotel (Gite La P'tite Falaise) - the hospitality was amazing. It is a home converted into a hotel and it felt like family. Just that we had call an interpreter to converse !! My french is limited to basic greetings and their English was even more limited.. But, finally we figured out a unique way to interact - Google translate !!! I was treated like a guest in their family and it felt great. It was a great start to the trip...

The next morning, I was offered a nice, royal breakfast - This was going to be the biggest meal of the day. It was time to bid adieu - I have not felt bad leaving any other hotel ever in my life, but this one was special.

Ste Anne Des Monts

After finishing registration formalities, I was ready to start my hike. I had met a park official, while I was travelling to the park, who recommended me to do the entire circuit (~17Kms) instead of just doing the summit of Mt Albert (~10+Kms). My only worry was that i had to return on time for the 5PM shuttle - If i missed it, I would be stranded in the middle of the park without a camp site booking, tent and sleeping bag. That was a scary picture !!

But then, I decided to take that risk and started the full circuit.

Near the trail head

There were some amazing views right from the beginning. This range is very similar, in terms of vegetation, to Trans Canada trail that I completed about two weeks back. Trans Canada trail lies to the west of St Lawrence river whereas these mountains are on the east.

As i was gaining elevation, there were some beautiful viewpoints all across the trail. Here are some of the pics:

The summit

I met a 50+ hiker towards the latter half of the trail. He and his 80yr old father do this hike each year religiously and since his father had a medical checkup this year, he handed over the baton to his son. One quality of North Americans that amazes me is their commitment to fitness - This guy (50yr old son) has been hiking for a period that easily exceeds my age. One of the reasons that keep me going is people like him who inspire me each and every time i have hiked in North America.

I admire his commitment

The view from summit was outstanding - you can see the entire range on a clear day. Luckily for me, it was not cloudy enough and i got to see the whole range of Chic chocs.

The view from Summit (1)

The view from Summit (2)

The summit is as flat as it can get.. Since this is a feeding ground of Caribou, they have placed a wooden platform all along the summit so as to not disturb the grass below. We are not supposed to get off the platform - this was respected by everybody.

The return trail has a long patch of rocky stretch - takes a serious toll on your ankles.

There is a beautiful river crossing (on a bridge) too.

There is a nice lake too - Apparently, this looks really beautiful during winter... You will find its pictures in the visitors center.

All in all, a beautiful hike which had challenges on all fronts - right from travel to communication to the actual hike itself.. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

As it turns out, this one was my last hike in North America. I would start hiking the tropical forests & peaks of South Asia as soon as i get settled down in Singapore.

Bye Bye North America !!

Trans Canada Trail - St Tite Des Caps to Anse Aux Vaches

2011-09-05T22:23:00.001+08:00

Hiking the 'Trans Canada Trail' seems to have become an annual ritual... Also, this is the same one which i attempted earlier during the year but had to return empty handed because of not knowing French (Why you should know French !)

Last year, around the same time, Rias and I did a shorter hike on the same trail (2010 Trans Canada Trail Hike)

This time around, I decided to do it solo - this one being my first solo overnight hike. Last year we had hiked till Camp Gribane but i wanted to stretch myself this time around. So, I decided to go till Anse Aux Vaches (Google translates it to 'Handle the cows' !) which would be a 35km round trip from St Tite Des Caps.

This segment of Trans Canada trail is mostly through dense vegetation and offers some spectacular views of St Lawrence river. Although the elevation gain is not significant, the frequent uphill-downhill stretches makes it challenging.

DAY 1:

Montreal - Quebec (Many operators ply this route)

Quebec - St Tite Des Caps (Public transit -> Intercar)

The forecast predicted rains for the evening so I had to reach Anse Aux Vaches and setup tent before it starts pouring down. The hike between St Tite Des Caps and Camp Gribane (~10Km) is frequented by many day hikers. However, the stretch between Gribane and Anse Aux Vaches is totally deserted - There were spider webs across the trail, which clearly meant nobody has gone through that segment for quite some time.

'Stove not working !'

I managed to complete the 17km strech in about 7hrs. Reached the campsite before six in the evening. All i had since morning was a muffin at Quebec bus station and nuts during the hike. I was looking up for a good dinner before I called it a day. Thats when my stove pump refused to work - after trying to fix it for an hour, i quit. I had no other option but to have a couple of bars and go to sleep.

DAY 2:

Luckily for me, breakfast did not require boiling water. Else, it could have easily been one of the worst hikes ever ! I had a nice breakfast, which would possibly be the only meal before dinner. I had to start really early at 5AM to make sure i reach back on time for the 1 PM bus. I made good progress - also managed to stop at view points and still was back in time.

'Bus full...'

Apparently, there was more excitement left ! It is a first come first serve ticket issued on this route - so, if the bus is already full, you just have to wait for the next one. That is exactly what happened with me but i was in no mood to wait for 5 hrs for the next bus. So, i asked the driver if i could just stand in the aisle till Quebec - Thankfully, he agreed and I was tracking to plan again !

Unfortunately, i forgot to take a camera along - all i had with me was a primitive VGA camera on my cell phone, which also happens to be primitive !!.

You will find some good pictures of the same trail in my previous blog (2010 Trans Canada Trail Hike)

Up next: Chic-Chocs Mountain range - Mt Albert in Gaspesie National Park.

Into the Arctic - Auyuittuq National Park - Tips for the first time hiker

2011-08-07T11:21:00.008+08:00

All throughout my research for this hike, I have not been able to find in depth advice/tips for the first time hiker to Auyuittuq. So, here is a compilation of our mistakes (& learnings) and things that we did right ! You may want to have a look at my gear list (Auyuittuq List) before going through this article.

Though this is meant for the first time hiker to Auyuittuq, even those who have been to Auyuittuq might be able to pick up a point or two.

Travel

What we did right:

Flight cancellations are common due to unpredictable weather. Allow for one day between transits - we saw a group stranded because one of their flights was cancelled and they were at risk of missing their connecting flight. You can avoid this mess by planning better...

What we didn't:

Our planning was just about perfect - we just had to spend one extra day at Pangnirtung because we wound up earlier than expected due to bad weather.

Tent

Tent is the most crucial element of your trip. Your trip can easily be a misadventure if you don't have the right tent. It should be able to face extreme elements !

What we did right:

Wind : Make sure your tent is able to withstand heavy gusts of wind (30-35kmph at least). Add extra anchors even if it isn't windy when you setup the tent.
Water : You cannot afford to let water in at any cost - the risk of hypothermia is quite high in these environments. Make sure you always use a tarp below the tent. Check out the waterproofness rating. I own the 2 person MSR Hubba Hubba and did not face any issues even in extreme rain conditions we had. No condensation issues despite almost six nights of continuous rain (because of the mesh screen inside which provides very good ventilation)!
Tent Location : There are no designated campsites - although you may certainly be able to find some traces of previous campers. Avoid exposed areas. Don't be too close to bed of mountains (rock falls are common) and don't be too close to the river either. We saw some tent sites (traces of previous campers) go under water due to heavy rains. Avoid water streams (even those without water - you never know !)
Tent Positioning: While setting up tent, determine wind direction and expose least area to wind. Try to expose corners to wind - this will deflect wind and your tent will not take a hit. This precaution may be extremely helpful if wind direction doesn't change. If the wind direction does keep changing, you anyways have no other better option !!

What we didn't:

Nothing !! - We were bang on. Not even a single drop of water inside tent despite 6 nights of rain and one night of storm.

Stove, Food and Fuel

What we did right:

Carry 2 days of extra food - you might be stranded at river crossings and may have to extend your trip.

Carry a backup stove - the first emergency shelter is 20+Kms

Carry enough fuel - Again, don't depend on emergency caches ! About ~100 ml per person per day. This is just an average - go by this if you don't have any prior experience. We managed with ~1L for 2 people for a trip of 8 days. We cooked twice a day - but only boiled water as we had ready-to-eat stuff. We carried 2 litres...

Self sufficiency is the best option for this trip - Don't depend on emergency shelters but know what is available there.

What we didn't

Read instructions thorougly on packs before you leave. Some food items (e.g. scrambled eggs) might need additional utensils. We carried 3-4 extra packs which we could not use. Easily avoidable !

This applies only if you intend to carry ready to eat items which require only boiling water. If you are an experienced hiking cook, you can ignore this...

River crossings

What we did right:

We carried waterblocker sealskinz socks. It worked decently well - although we would have liked to perform better. We did have water inside our socks... This is possibly the best option around.

What we didn't:

Get water shoes.

We used sandals (Merell Waterpro) to cross rivers. This was not a bright option. Your feet is exposed to cold water and you feel that chillness for quite some time. Small pieces of rock get stuck frequently- it was irritating to remove them each time we crossed a river stream.

Be prepared to walk long distances on your water shoes. We had heavy rain and there were numerous new streams created on our return. I almost walked 10-15 kms on my sandals - it takes a toll on your ankles...

Good strong hiking poles

Lighter isn't always better !

We opted for ultra light poles from Black Diamond - very expensive and they do not serve the purpose. My poles broke off (yes, thats right !) during a river crossing (luckily, on our return trip). I did the remaining crossings with one pole !!

Get something which is sturdy.

Satellite Phone

What we did right:

Though this is optional, we did carry one. Was very useful - we got the weather forecast and our decision to cut short the trip was based on this forecast. The forecast was indeed very accurate. We were not stranded and did not need rescue (unlike all others who were rescued by helicopters. We were the last ones to come out of the park by themselves) just because we carried a satellite phone.

And of course, you can keep your loved ones informed - saves some unnecesary tense moments for them.

Iridium satellite phones work well in the arctic. We carried 9555 - Latest, lightest and sturdy. Worked as sweet as melted chocolate !!

Don't be ashamed to ask

What we did right:

We always asked about conditions ahead from hikers who were crossing us in the opposite direction (There were not many and there will never be many !! ). It helps tremendously to determine water levels in rivers beforehand. Else, you might have to camp right next to the river to figure out the right time to cross it - you might end up putting up tent in a risky spot.

Others

These apply to any hike in general.

Backpack: Get a comfortable backpack - avoid first use in the arctic. Prefer tried and tested ones.

Map: Get a chrismar map. This is the only map available - very helpful. You can order it online (www.chrismar.com).

Sleeping bag rating: Normally your sleeping bag should be rated 10 degrees lower than the lowest temperature you can expect in a trip. We had a comfortable trip in July with a -7 Deg C rated sleeping bag.

Sleeping pad: Provides insulation and comfort

Hiking boots: Try to get boots that go over the ankle - you don't have to change shoes often for river crossings. The hike is not technically risky. Any type is OK but waterproofing (goretex) is must.

Compass: We carried one but never used it. You may need it in the northern segment of the pass where there is no fixed trail.

Gaiters: Optional but may be helpful. You can skip it...

Energy bars/gels, hydration pack, water purifier tablets (we carried but never used it! You cannot get purer water on this planet - Make sure you collect water from side streams and not the river. You may need purifiers if you use river water) and layered clothing.

Hope this helps - All the best !

Feel free to contact me (by leaving a comment) if you need additional information - I would be glad to assist...

Into the arctic - Auyuittuq National Park - Video Blog

2011-08-05T23:48:00.000+08:00

The storyline is self explanatory and I do not want to spoil the suspense with a brief write-up here.

This is my first attempt at video blogging and hence the effort might seem amateurish. But, it certainly looks like a decent start !!

Just a few words of caution:

1. Views and opinions expressed are of an amateur hiker from Asia (S/P). Experienced North American hikers, who have done Auyuittuq, have full rights to disagree.

2. I would recommend you to watch both videos together (back-2-back) to get a feel of the whole story - if you don't have the time (~10 mins), please wait until you have it. However, if you don't have time and will never have time - then please feel free to watch as you wish.

3. This video blog does NOT claim to be an Auyuittuq guide - Events that occured were one of those rare extremes which you may not face during a regular Auyuittuq hike. I would be following this up with a detailed guide for first time hikers to Auyuittuq.

PART 1:

PART 2:

Enjoy - Detailed writeup (with more pics) coming soon. !!

Grand Canyon hike - South Rim to North Rim

2011-07-19T12:48:00.001+08:00

As I look back at this rim-to-rim hike of grand canyon, I realize that this one is indeed going to be very special. And, a rim-to-rim hike is possibly the only way one can experience this magnificent masterpiece in its entirety.

Grand Canyon and its history:

The sheer size and age of these structures is unbelievable. The majestic grand canyon(s) gave us a glimpse of the insignificance of human race in the larger scheme of things. Here is a brief history:

Grand Canyon lies in Colorado plateau, which was uplifted by collision of tectonic plates. Colorado river and its smaller streams have been cutting through layers of rocks for millions of years resulting in the formation of Grand Canyon. The age of Grand Canyon is a hot topic for debate but Wiki states that Colorado river made its way through the plateau at least 17 million years ago. Since then, Colorado river has been eroding layers of rock to result in the current structure of Grand Canyon.

The Hike:

Hiking 21 miles (33Kms) in temperatures of 40-45 degree celsius is certainly not a casual hike. Going down ~4800 ft and coming up ~5800 ft is a daunting task, to say the least. The hike is not technically risky as such but the extremely hot weather makes it a very challenging hike.

DAY 1: Rendezvous at Las Vegas

Five of us flew in from different part of North America to Las Vegas - Ali from Raleigh, Ady from LA, Pushkar & Deepak from San Jose and I flew in from Montreal. Luckily for us, we didn't face any flight delays like the colorado hike last year (http://athmagyaan.blogspot.com/2010/08/colorado-trekkers-paradise.html)

After spending the day at a hotel in Las Vegas, we left for the campground just outside Grand Canyon National park. Just before entering the campground, we were stopped by a police officer who informed us that the campround was full. This would have been a major upset to our plan as there is hardly any other spot available nearby for camping. But, luckily for us, we had reserved a campsite and were allowed to enter on providing reservation details. I guess the officer was bluffing to prevent gate crashers from entering the campground.

We reached our campsite around midnight and were ready for a short sleep as we had an early start the next day.

DAY 2: South Rim (South Kaibab Trailhead) to Cottonwood campground via Phantom ranch (14 miles/22.4 Kms)

After just three hours of sleep we set off on this 21 mile rim-to-rim hike. We reached just on time for the 415AM shuttle which took us till South Kaibab trailhead. Here is a view of how it looked just after we started:

Grand Canyon at South Rim

Grand Canyon at South Rim (Source: Ali)

The first 7 miles were relatively easy but were taking a toll on our knees. This portion of hike is a steep downhill stretch all throughout until Phantom Ranch. As visibility was getting better, we had the opportunity to witness this majestic beauty.

On the way down to Phantom Ranch

Ady (Left) and Pushkar

Colorado river

We reached Phantom Ranch (7 miles from Trailhead) at around 930 - about five hours after we started. We were beginning to feel the heat now. The only direction temperature was moving was upwards.

Water is all you need !

Ady's turn!

And then Pushkar !

That's where we were warned by a ranger. We were about to start hiking the next 7 miles at 10AM in temperatures of over 40C. It seems there have been a couple of rescues during the past two days in the same stretch. Hikers seemed to have under-estimated the heat. We were told to wait till 4PM to start the hike. But then, without adequate sleep, next day's hike would have been tough. We decide to proceed albeit with all precautions given by the ranger (which also included getting down in water wherever possible).

As we were hiking through the flat patch between Phantom Ranch and Cottonwood camp, we realised that we had not made the right move - but, we had no other alternative. We should have either started earlier or hiked the first 7 miles faster to beat the heat.

One of those water breaks!

On the flat open stretch which made us stretch !

We got exhausted but still made it to Cottonwood camp in decent shape and with lots of time at hand. Ali and Deepak, who were quite ahead of us, reached cottonwood before 10AM thereby escaping the heat. Aditya, Pushkar and I reached at around 4PM.

There was nice little pool at Cottonwood camp much to the relief of all of us.

One can easily guess the temperature of water from their expressions !

After spending sometime there, we had an early dinner and went to bed at around 830. That's when we realized that we had carried our sleeping bags for no reason. It was really hot - some people didn't even bother to get their tents. After this tiring day, a good sleep was very essential for next day's hike and we did manage to have that.

DAY 3: Cottonwood Campground to North Rim (7 miles/11.2 Km)

Next day, we started hiking the last 7 mile stretch at about 330AM. This stretch had some lovely views as we were gaining elevation. These 7 miles were the steepest of the lot but we could do it without getting completely exhausted as we were in the shade most of the time.

Time for reflection !

Pushkar finds a cozy(??) place for a quick nap !

Once at the top of North rim, we had all the time in the world.

At the North Rim - Victory at last !

We had one full to day to look around before we take the shuttle back to South rim. We got some good pictures there.

Pushkar tracing the trail - South rim is at the background at this pic - that's where we had started !

One of those rare pictures with all crazy buggers !

DAY 4: Return to Las Vegas

Early next day, we took the transcanyon shuttle to South rim. We spent some time at the South rim before starting our journey back to Vegas.

South rim too was good - We didn't notice it as we had started before sunrise !

We made a quick stop at Hoover dam which lies on the way to Vegas. An engineering marvel, hoover dam was built in the 1930s - it is tough to imagine that something so big and complex was accomplished such a long time back.

We reach the airport on time for our flights and look back at a very satisfying hike - one that will linger in our memories for quite some time. Also, this one being my last hike in the US before i head back to Asia, it was indeed special.

Images are courtesy of Ady & Pushkar (unless stated otherwise)

Into the arctic - Auyuittuq National Park - Gear List

2011-07-16T07:02:00.001+08:00

Finally, it is time for my longest ever hiking trip (turns out to be the most expensive one too !!). This time next week, i shall be airbound to the remote wilderness of Auyuittuq National Park in the Canadian arctic. The 10 day trip would involve hiking 75kms through 6 Nights/7 days, 2 nights camping at the outskirts of Auyuittuq and 2 nights at a nice (&pricey) hotel in Iqaluit.

Just reaching Auyuittuq National Park takes 3 flights (Montreal->Ottawa->Iqaluit->Pangnirtung) and a boat ride !! Thats what makes this trip so exciting... There is so much uncertainty throughout the trip.

It has been a long search and i finally seem to be near the finale of 'to-purchase' lists... This has involved months of research and then finally choosing the right stuff that will last in the arctic. This was crucial because if you dont have it in your backpack, you just cant get it.

So here it is:

BackPack, Sleeping bag and tent

Backpack --> Gregory Palisade 80 - Superbly comfortable
Sleeping bag --> North Face Cat's Meow (-7C) - tried and tested on many hikes; extremely satisfied with this purchase (Thanks Pushkar! )
Thermarest prolite plus sleepig pad -- very comfortable
Pillow - light weight, compact, air fill
Summit Bag --> Gregory Miniwok 18L ( Nice little summit bag that is hydration compatible)
Tent --> MSR Hubba Hubba (2 person) - Superlight, easy setup, sturdy

Kitchen

Stove --> Optimus Nova+ expedition multifuel stove + 2 1L fuel bottles - Have read a lot of reviews and this one seems to be one amongst the best multifuel stoves. MSR also has a couple of good ones.
Backup stove --> Solid fuel stove (Open flames are not allowed in the Park - to be used only in case of emergency)
Kitchen Pot --> MSR Alpinist 2 - Lightweight, compact, foldable handle, plastic holder on lid for easy lift off
Fork/Spoon --> 2 in 1 from MEC
Knife --< Opinel #8 foldable knife
Stormproof, waterproof matches

Food
--> Loads of stuff - 4-5 Kgs. MountainHouse, Backpackers pantry, Planters etc. Food is crucial on a trip like this and it is advised to carry atleast 1-2 days of extra food (Considering the fact that emergency response is measured in 'days' rather than hours! ) Everything from Chicken teriyaki to Pasta to Soups to Granola mixes...
--> Lots of Powerbar gels,bars,Nuts & Chocolate.
--> Electrolyte tablets that can be dissolved in water (Nice replacement for Gatorade- lightweight and less bullky)

Clothing & Footwear

Base Layer --> Polartek base layer from MEC (2) - lovely fit (It has been a struggle to find something that fits this well in North America !! )

Mid Layer --> Arcteryx Fleece - Simple, elegant, made of Polartek material
Outer Layer --> Kanuk (-40C rated sturdy jacket), Arcteryx rain shell (Made of Goretex Paclite - ligthweight, waterproof)

2 Half sleeve 100% polyester T shirts (cotton is not advisable for cold conditions as it soaks in moisture)

1 full sleeve Polyester T shirt

2 Hiking shorts - Columbia

1 North Face convertible hiking pant

1 Skiing pant - with a woolen base layer and waterproof outer layer

1 woolen sweater (just in case! Taking no chances...)

Glove liners, Woolen Kanuk Tuque

Waterblocker sealskinz socks (for river crossings)

North Face Vibram/goretex hiking shoes - (Dont recollect name of the model. Light weight, comfortable and breathable+waterproof)

Merell waterpro sandals (for river crossings)

Emergency

Emergency survival blanket for 2 - for hypothermia

Adventure medical kit - ultralight 5

Tent repair kit

Thermarest repair kit for sleeping pad

Sewing kit & adhesive

Duct tape - for backpack/sleeping bag etc

Goretex patches - waterproof patches for outer layer repair.

Spare laces

Insect repellant

Mosquito net for head/neck

Others

Iridium Satellite phone - works decently well in the Arctic

Hydration pack 2L Camelbak

Nalgene 1L bottle

Columbia 750ml bottle

Trekking poles - Black Diamond ultralight (250g)

Gaiters

MSR water pump+ filter

Straps+cords etc.

D90 Nikon camera + 18-105 lens (looking around for wide angle lens)

I still have some items in my 'to-purchase' list which includes Polar bear repellants, spare batteries for D90 and a service kit for the stove.

I hope all this helps me get back in a single piece !! Whatever be the result, I am surely going to enjoy this one till the end !!

'The tree of life' - A masterpiece !!

2011-06-25T08:27:00.000+08:00

A classic, exceptional movie after a long long time...

'The tree of life' is the story of a dis-illusioned man who has a troubled relationship with his father. The story beautifully intertwines his life and the evolution of earth. It is a wonderfully crafted film with superb visuals and a very thoughtful storyline. The visuals used to depict evolution of life on earth are as exquisite as the best documentaries on Discovery or Nat Geo.

Here is the trailer (Source: YouTube)

Superb performances from Brad pitt, Jessica Chastain and the kid who has enacted Sean Penn's childhood. The soundtrack, too, matches up to every other aspect of the movie and adds a fine touch to the central theme.

STOP HERE if you intend to watch the movie. The portion below contains spoilers...

Brad Pitt, a strict father to his sons, is a hard believer in struggle in this world and tries to ready his kids for this battle of survival. His dialogues, like the one below, portray the struggle exactly the way it is and makes us wonder if this struggle is worth it.

'Some day you will fall down and weep. You will understand it all. All Things.'

Jessica Chastain, a true love believer, riases her kids to be good human beings. Since Brad Pitt is mostly out on work, she is the one who actually inculcates values in kids. Again, she too has some powerful dialogues which speak for what she stands for..

'There are two ways through life - The way of nature and the way of grace. You have to chose which one you follow'

'Unless you love, your life will flash by'

Sean Penn, the eldest son of Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain, is a dis-illusioned man who has had a troubled childhood. He questions his own existence and all the relationships he has had. This questioning has been beautifully interwoven with the evolution of life on earth and also raises some key questions on purpose and longevity of our existence as a race.

Terence Malick, the director, has done a splendid job in getting this executed perfectly. Cinematography is excellent. The visuals of universe are a beauty to watch on big screen and have a long standing impact.

Soundtrack by Alexandre Desplat blends in very well with the theme and adds on to the aura the movie creates.

All in all, an artistic, well crafted, superbly executed, thought provoking movie..

CAUTION: This film is certainly not made for action/ lovers - Some parts of the movie are indeed very slow to give more depth to the theme.

A refreshing fortnight !!

2011-06-13T10:47:00.001+08:00

The past 15 days have been very refreshing in terms of watching quality movies, both english as well as french. I have not been able to upload their reviews as and when i saw them and hence this consolidated review.

First Grader

A lovely film setup in Kenya, a former British colony. Maruge, who fought for freedom from British rule, is now in his 80s and wants to join a primary school as the Kenyan government announces free education for ALL.

The story shuttles between his past and the present and portrays the need to learn from the past. Nothing can stop Maruge from learning and he persists despite all the opposition from fellow villagers and politicians.

Lovely visuals, great African music and an inspiring true story ! Must watch...

Here is the trailer: (Source IMDb)

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi4027358489/

Midnight in Paris

A writer (Owen Wilson) is on a vacation in Paris. He is about to complete his new book. There is something missing in his book and he is not able to figure it out. He doesn't socialize much and tries to get to completion of his incomplete story.

He is suddenly part of an unexpected drama that turns his life upside down.

The suspense in the movie would be lost if i reveal more.

A nice light movie - One time watch.

Trailer below: (Source IMDb)

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi853581081/

Certified Copy (French/Italian/English)

The husband is a writer who specializes in art and has just released a book titled 'Certified copy'. He is of the belief that as long as a piece of art is reproduced as its original, it is as good as its original.

His wife, however, is an art collector who believes in originality. The whole movie is a debate on the importance of originality in art. It is beautifully intertwined with their daily lives and has quite a few lovely moments.

There are some key revelations which are brought out very well and hence keep you interested all the while.

Slightly on the slower side, but still a good one.

Trailer below: (Source IMDb)

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3646593561/

Ready (Hindi)

I am not yet 'ready' with the review !! There is nothing to talk about - just keep your brains outside the theater and you should do good ...

Le Nom Des Gens (French) - 'The names of love'

I have not laughed this much in a long time...

Beautiful movie about 2 people who are at cultural extremes in the society - A jew and an Arab..

Baya, the Algerian French arab, sleeps with almost every politician she disagrees with to convert them. Arthur, who is a jew, is a vet who advises people on epidemics. Arthur has never been comfortable in the company of women and Baya, on the other hand, always ends up in bed right up on the first date. The events which unfold as these two come together are lovely and superbly executed. The extent to which these two are influenced by each other is portrayed very well.

An awesome, comic, thoughtful movie.

WARNING: This movie contains a lot of nudity and is NOT advised for children.

Trailer below: (Source IMDb)

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi4256603161/

Last Night

A typical post marriage movie. A couple after 3 years of marriage are tempted to be disloyal. A story about trust, lust and temptation.

Not a great movie, but you may watch it if you dont have anything else to do.

Potiche (French) - 'Trophy housewife'

A french movie setup in the late 70s which portrays the time when women's liberation was at its peak. A light comedy with a central theme of equality.

A rich girl gets married to a middle class man. He gets her father's factory as dowry and manages it in draconian ways. Trouble pops up and he is not cope with the pressure and lands up in the hospital. His wife, the original owner's daughter, is at the helm of affairs now.
She turns around the company in the absence of her husband. Her husband returns and sets up a plot to get her back to household work.

It is a story about how she gets transformed as these events unfold.

Trailer below: (Source IMDb)

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1380096537/

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Avenue Lincoln,Montreal,Canada

Why you need to know French in a French Province !!

2011-05-22T13:27:00.000+08:00

It is not one of the greatest of starts to the hiking season ! It hurts more since this one is going to be my last summer here in North America...

I planned my first solo hike ever - the trans Canada Trail. This is the same trail i did last fall with a friend of mine. (http://athmagyaan.blogspot.com/2010/09/trans-canada-trail-segment-st-tite-des.html)

The ordeal begins right there:

Website in french - No english translation available.
The campsites were shown as available on the website.
Tried calling the contact number listed. No answer - Voice mail was in French. I hear a beep and leave my name and number just in case sombeody returns my call.
There was no notice on the website indicating any special message.

I decide to go there directly since the campsites were mostly free even during peak season last year. I get up at 4AM on a nice sunny saturday and seven hours & 2 bus journeys later, I reach the trailhead. Only to realize that the visitor's center (Sentier Des Caps) is locked. I enquire at the gas station near by. They somehow find the contact number (St Tite Des Caps it is a small village about 325KM north of Montreal) and give me a thunderbolt.
The season opens in July.

It seems that was the message in the French voicemail. This is the first time in past two years that I have felt the extreme need for French in this province. Montreal has a decent population that speaks English but the outskirts always have a miniscule population that is comfortable in any language other than French.

Anyways, I am still trying to figure out if I was to blame or if Quebec needs to be more open in terms of official communication for Tourism.

Let me continue thinking on what went wrong and will certainly post my opinion if i do reach a conclusion !!!

Till then, let me satisfy myself with Mont Royal (The city of Montreal derives its name from this hill) !!

Coming up next:
Grand Canyon (US) in the last week of June, and
Arctic Circle (Auyuittuq National park, Nunavut, Canada) late July.

Le Quattro Volte (The four times)

2011-05-15T10:14:00.001+08:00

As I look back at the recent past, I realize that I have seen more offbeat and foreign movies than regular commercial flicks. Maybe it is a sign of changing preferences or maybe there are not enough good commercial flicks around or maybe Oscar fever has caught up on me. Whatever the reason maybe, I am certainly loving it.

This one is a dialog-less foreign movie. Well, there is nothing foreign in it as there is not even a single dialog in the whole movie. Which also implies that there were no subtitles!!

It portrays different aspects of human nature in the form of 4 elements - Human, Animal, Crop and mineral. Each of these has been shown as a different segment but has been impressively interwoven in the overall concept.

The moral of the story is that we live 4 lives :
As minerals- because we are made of salt, water and other organic matter
As crops - we breathe, reproduce and nourish ourselves.
As animal - we possess intelligence and can relate to the outside world.
And
As human - we are rational beings and have will and reason at our disposal.

Not a greatly captivating movie but does have some sparks of brilliance. Especially the way the lost young goat has been shot and it's feelings conveyed. Simple camera work, long uncut shots keep you occupied throughout the movie.

Great concept but execution could have been better. Nevertheless, a decent attempt and a very good message.

Trailer is available below: (Source - IMDB)

IMDb trailer

Enjoy!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Avenue Lincoln,Montreal,Canada

'In a Better World' - Danish film

2011-05-01T13:48:00.001+08:00

Just back from (In) a Better World...

My tryst with foreign films continues. It used to be predominantly French until sometime back - but, of late this has extended to other languages as well.

After Incendies (French) & Biutiful (Spanish), it was time for 'In a Better World (Danish). All these were nominated foreign films for Oscars. If you want to play safe, start with the Oscar nominated foregin films - Chances are bright that you would get to watch some marvels.

This one is a lovely film with a great message. It tries to explore the thin line between justice and revenge. Wonderful perfomances from all the lead actors. It links a story in South Africa to another one in Denmark with utmost ease and draws parallels between them. The situations used to convey key messages are aboslutely delightful to watch and have a really strong impact.

And, the locations in Denmark were stunning with some beautiful shots of a riverside summer house and large fields amongst others. Africa, too, was pictured perfectly and everything seemed to be fitting very well into the script.

Despite the pace being slow, there was not a single moment when i was thinking about anything else. If you are a fan of really fast movies, then this may not be a great choice for you. But if are not, then this is a lovely watch.

Here is the trailer:

If you would like to see it on IMDb, here is the link:

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1945869593/

Enjoy !

Montreal to New York by train - Photos

2011-04-23T21:46:00.000+08:00

All the images below belong to Andre Paquet who has been kind enough to allow posting them here. Thanks Andre !

Lake Champlain (This is the lake that train goes along for a long time)

Lake Champlain

Washington Bridge

Rhinecliff

Hudson

Montreal to New York by train

2011-04-18T19:28:00.001+08:00

Crossing the US border by train was the only mode of transport that I have not attempted and hence I decided to do it his time. The expectations were high. I have heard a lot of people talk about the wonderful route between Montreal and NY.

Here are some reasons why you might consider traveling by train on this route:
1. AMTRAK's service is good - Announcements are entertaining. On my way to NY, the attendant proudly announced that this is a 19th century route and hence no WiFi. This may not be the right example here though!!
2. The route is scenic in the portion in US between Plattsburgh and Whitehall for 2.5 hrs or so. The train travels along a big lake all this while.
3. Lots of time to think as you have nothing else to do ! This might end up being an introspective trip if you are one of those hard thinkers.
4. Food is decent - much better than some other travel options I have had. Try out the chicken teriyaki rice bowl - it's nice!
5. The attendants are considerate enough to offer smoking stops as well..

However, I must say that I am not entirely satisfied with this journey. Here are the reasons why:
1. No WiFi on the train
2. No sleeper coaches - it is a 11hr+ journey. The seats were certainly comfortable but 11hrs is still a long time.
3. Border crossing takes up almost 1.5 hrs of the 11hr journey - the good thing is that you don't have to get down from the train.
4. The views were good but only for the portion mentioned above. The rest was pretty ordinary. My expectations were really high due to the heavy hype around this. The Pune-Mumbai route (3.5hrs) in India is much better I would say.
5. Sky high expectations. The whole trip would have been different otherwise.

So, travel with minimal expectations and you will be pleasantly surprised with this route.

I have asked for photos from a fellow traveller - they will be here once I receive them.

NOTE: This blog has been written real-time(during travel). However, courtesy AMTRAK, it has come online only after I reached home.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:AMTRAK train 69 (NY to Montreal)

Yanni Live @ Montreal !!

2011-04-04T08:40:00.001+08:00

It has been more than ten years since I have been listening to Yanni and this occasion was like a dream come true. 31st March 2011 would remain a special day all throughout my life.

Bell Center, the biggest stadium in Montreal, was packed to its max capacity (the website states 15000 for performances) for this enthralling performance from the maestro. The atmosphere was electrifying - just the presence of this huge audience was enough to set the stage for a wonderful performance.

It was 730PM and a fully occupied Bell Center was awaiting the maestro with anxiousness. Every passing minute was adding on more energy to the electrifying atmosphere. Speaking in Engineering terms, it was like 'Energy is proportional to Time' !!

And finally, the maestro's team arrives, which in turn increases the noise levels in the stadium. Nothing was going to calm us down except Yanni himself. A couple of minutes pass by and Yanni comes running (literally) on to the stage. He is greeted with a long applause by each and every individual present. For me, just seeing him from so close (i was sitting in the 15th row on the right side of stage) gave me levels of satisfaction that i have not seen in a while.

And then, for the next two hours, he took us to an entirely different world. As he rightly said "if I can take you away from your daily lives and give you some peace - i'll consider my job well done".. Yanni did way more than that !! Masterpiece after masterpiece, he was setting the mood up. There were also performances from his latest album 'Truth of Touch' which was released last month or so.

Of course, since he was in Montreal, there had to be some French sentences. With whatever little understanding i have of this language, I found it pretty decent.

As it turned out, it was not a dream come true only for me. It was pretty much the same for the maestro who was on this tour after several years. He talked about the times when he and his friend (on drums) were dreaming about THIS DAY. The day when they would be performing their heart out in front of a huge audience.

He was so genuine in each and every stroke of the piano and also in each and every sentence he spoke that I was completely drawn into the performance. Not even for a single moment was I reminded of the world awaiting me outside the stadium.

It had been almost two hours of non-stop music from the maestro and we realized (after making him come back twice after he left) that we were nearing the end. This was like nearing the end of a fully lit tunnel which has darkness on both ends.

But what did not realize was, as he was churning masterpieces one after another, that he did not play 'Santorini' from 'Live at the Acropolis'. It deserved to be right there in the end - the grand finale of this performance.

This is easily THE BEST event of my life, an event which gave me un-paralleled peace and satisfaction.

This one is indeed a fitting Finale for my stay in Montreal.

I would make every attempt possible to see him again whichever part of the world I am in..

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Bell Center, Montreal

Tosca - My first Opera !!

2011-02-03T09:53:00.002+08:00

And the weekend expeditions continue... The dip in mercury levels does accelerate the plans !

New York is a city that never fails to amaze me. In each of my previous trips, I have tried to explore a different aspect of the city.

The first trip is always a sight seeing trip for almost any city and it wasn't different for New York. I tried to explore the suburbs in the next trip driving past Brooklyn, Bronx etc. Without visiting these, one is easily led to believe that Manhattan IS New York. The next one was a walking trip through manhattan which was a marathon walk from Times Square till Wall street.

In this one, which is probably the most spontaneous amongst all my New York trips, I went to an opera for the first time in my life. And like every other 'first' experience in life, this too was an experience which was special.

It was saturday morning around 11 AM and we (Ashish (a friend) and I) were at Times Square wondering 'what next'. I have always wanted to watch a musical at Broadway ever since i visited New York. So we checked out if there were any of them just after lunch. The tickets were not affordable and we didn't have reviews of any of the musicals. Hence, we decided to give it a miss and walk down to Lincoln Square (The Metropolitan Opera) to checkout if there is any Opera scheduled for the afternoon.

Tosca and La Traviata were the ones scheduled and only Tosca was the only one scheduled for the afternoon. At times, it is good to be without options - makes your life easier.

Went to the ticket counter - options were given (not a problem here - because we weren't in a mood to bet a huge sum of money !) . We picked the second cheapest amongst the lot and ended up with standing tickets on the 'orchestra floor'. If i were to look back at this decision, it was real good value for money - especially for the first Opera when I was really not sure of the value of the performance to me. It is a different matter that i may not choose that option the next time around.

Now back to Tosca. Tosca, a creation of Giacomo Puccini, is a play setup in Rome during the early 1800s. It is a story of love, sacrifice and jealousy. Amazing performances by Sondra Radvanovsky (Tosca) and her lover, Marcelo Alvarez (Cavaradossi). The story was fairly simple but really powerful in its depiction. The subtitles on the small displays in front of the seats made it easier to follow the plot and get immersed in the story. The applause at the end was a sign of the success of the show. The music was pretty good. Though it didn't stand out it anyway - it certainly did compliment the story very well. Tosca adds on to the list of 'my firsts' in North America...

The only uncomfortable situation in the whole show was our attire. We were probably the most casually dressed. Ashish had a night out the night before and i was fresh(?) from travel the previous night - Certainly it doesn't mean we would have looked any different in formals !!

We were also probably the youngest at the show - But i am glad we made it.

This would remain in my memories for some time to come !

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Montreal,Canada

Mee ShivajiRaje Bhosale boltoy and the rise of Marathi Cinema !

2011-01-27T10:34:00.002+08:00

It has been some time since i have seen a Marathi movie.. And this one was a very pleasant watch after a long time.

Gone are those days when i used to be a regular at Prabhat/Neelayam theaters in Pune for Matinee shows. Also gone are the days of senseless comedies Ashok Saraf and Lakshmikant Berde.

Marathi movies, since then, have become socially relevant and it is certainly a pleasure to watch some of them. The shift possibly began with 'Saat Chya aat Gharaat' when Marathi cinema started focussing on relevant social themes instead of senseless comedies. Shwaas, Dombivili Fast and Natrang are great movies with wonderful performances. I am no expert on Marathi Cinema, but I can certainly sense a change in the mindset of the industry - the proof being the increasing number of movies having social relevance.

Coming back to 'Mee ShivajiRaje Bhosale boltoy', the performances of Sachin Khedekar and Mahesh Majrekar are stellar. Though it might gone in overdrive mode in the second half, it certainly sends across the message to all 'maharashtrians'. One of the learnings from the movies is the maturity in the definition of a 'Maharashtrian'. Sachin Khedekar, in one of the most prominent sections of the movie, defines a 'Marathi Manus' as anybody who has domiciled in the state of Maharashtra and does not limit it to those speaking Marathi. Going by this, even a taxi driver bhaiyya from UP or an Udupi/Marwadi who has setup business in Maharshtra becomes a Maharashtrian. The industry has gone way beyond the petty politics of MNS and others alike. And it is a welcome sign...

A must watch for anybody who has stayed in Maharashtra at any point of time in their lives - I can guarantee that you would be able to relate to it...

Way to go Marathi Cinema !! I am already awaiting the next big one...

<< Opinions expressed are purely my own - Feel free to let me know if you are offended by any of these >>

North American Immigration Diaries - Where 'S/P' is 'XL' !!!

2011-01-24T07:59:00.002+08:00

If you are expecting a series like Vampire Diaries etc, then you might as well stop reading here.

However, if you are even remotely interested in immigration related aspects - then you are in the right place !

I have been wanting to write this piece for a long time since i relocated to Canada (although just for a couple of years !). This is about the challenges that immigration poses and the adjustments you make - to fit yourself into a culture that is drastically different from yours.

This is the first of a series, which talks about immigration to North America, its challenges and the possible adjustments or solutions. It certainly may not be suitable to all locations within North America considering the diverse nature of this continent. However, I have tried to be as generic as possible. Enjoy the read !

Where 'S/P' is 'XL'

Welcome to North America - A land where everything is grandiose right from the Christmas turkey to a glass of Coke to the rocky mountains of Colorado. And all these seem even more bigger when you consider the fact that I come from a geography where even a cup of tea has transformed into a 'Cutting Chai' ! That reminds me that an 'S' cup of coffee is easily equivalent to 2 cutting chais.

The first thing you notice when you land in this continent is the size of cars. It seems as if we are living in an era where family planning methods have not yet been discovered and people have to plan well in advance !! There certainly has been quite a bit of debate over this but this love for Gas guzzlers seems to be catching up again.

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12147304)
Courtesy BBC News

The next thing that would take you by surprise is the size of meals. North Americans, without any exceptions, have a great built and you need to understand that this has not happened overnight.. And by the time you understand this fact, you are already having the same diet ! I must, however, admit that diet in North America* is certainly more balanced than what you would have normally had in India.
(*French fries and Mayonnaise excluded !)

And the grandiosity extends to almost everything of daily use - Shoes, size of packs of tissue papers, size of eggs, milk cartons, average length of cigarettes, gloves and sizing of garments.

Garments, the main crux of this blog, are crucial to your appearance. And, if you don't choose them correctly, you may end up wearing baggy pants and baggy shirts all the time. It certainly is a different story if you think it is still fashionable !

'S/P' (stands for Small/Petit(french)) is the smallest size available in North America. You might have significant trouble finding a right sized garment if you tend to fall around the average height a typical Indian male (not sure about females though! - sorry for that).

For a long period now, I have been involved in this epic struggle to get the right size of garments. I have constantly been 'kid'ding about venturing into kids section. One fine day, I decided to give it a try and to my amazement/embarrassment/dilemma, I did find a blazer fitting perfectly !!! It was my day of realisation in North America... (Of course, I don't recommend this to everybody - else I might be sued for dragging somebody into depression !)

And the story goes on - Just that this one is indeed a GRAND story !!

And, as a concluding note, please do note that I have purposely not ventured out into size of condoms and other sensitive topics just to retain the 'G' rating of this blog !!!

Back to Basics !!!

2011-01-17T00:31:00.004+08:00

The last three days have been splendid. One great movie a day - this has been the best continuous stretch of extraordinary movies.

DAY 1: 127 Hours

A story about a young adolescent trying to find peace in solitude. An adventurer at heart, Aron, often ventures out solo 'into the wild' away from civilization. On this occasion, unfortunately, gets caught in one of the worst places that one can imagine - Hundred feet below surface, in one of the Canyons in Utah (US), with a boulder crushing his right hand.

This is an inspiring story of survival, will power and spontaneity.

Trailer below: (Source: IMDb)

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi768149785/

(Apple devices may not be able to play this - Requires flash)

<< This one is still in theaters - you may be able to catch it one of the screens near you >>

DAY 2: Into the wild

This is a classic directed by Sean Penn. Again, a story of an adventurer who ventures out 'into the wild' away from civilization to 'live'. Wonderfully made, this one is highly recommended to anybody who likes to be 'out there' in the wild.

A lovely story about how he abandons every'thing' he has before he sets out on his journey, a journey which turns out to be an epic journey that makes him understand some basics in life.

This story gets into you and raises some questions which put into question your own identity. One of the best movies i have ever seen in my life.

Trailer below: (Source: IMDb)

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi730988825/

(Apple devices may not be able to play this - Requires flash)

DAY 3: The King's Speech

The story of King George VI of Britain and how he overcomes his stammer to give an outstanding inspiring speech when his country needs it the most. Amazing performances from Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush as King George VI and Lionel Logue respectively.

Great mix of history and a simple yet strong story. The story doesn't get dull at any moment during the entire movie and keeps you waiting for the final speech.

Certainly a bright Oscar prospect..

Trailer below: (Source: IMDb)

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi806197529/

(Again, your Apple device may not be able to play this)

DAY 4: This blog

I could not resist myself from writing this piece. There are 2 great common learning points across these fantastic movies.

Go back to basics: Start questioning your direction in life - and maybe do a status check of where you are. All that these movies do is inspire us to think more into what we really want and what is 'necessary' and what is 'good to have'.. I know it is easier said than done, but nothing wrong with making an attempt.

Passion: Be it Aron Rolston in '127 Hours' or 'Alexander Supertramp' in 'Into the wild' or King George VI in 'The king's speech', the common underlying driver in each of these is the passion to achieve what you really want. What makes these stories even more powerful is the fact that all these are real stories and not fictional ones.

Let us hope we all figure out what we really want and achieve it too !

But, nothing stops us from giving a try..

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Location:Montreal

Mao's last dancer

2010-10-05T12:59:00.001+08:00

Watched a great touching movie after a long time (despite only three more people with me at the theatre !)

It is based on li Cunxin's autobiography.

The movie is setup in Mao ruled China and portrays the pros and cons of communist rule in a very apt manner. However, the core theme of the movie is about passion - passion to do what you want irrespective of what the circumstances command.

The movie revolves around Li who is 'selected' by Maoists into the art academy - 40 selected from millions across China. These 40 are given rigorus training of 'art' under strict supervision. Most the scenes in this training of Li exemplify the way in which China leads in the medals tally of almost any major sporting/athletic event. However, this movie is based on ballet dancing, something probably not so famous in the Asian geography. And thats what gives the plot an artistic angle.

The scenes of Li dancing are a treasure to watch - the passion that you can see in his eyes is something each one of us would like to have in us - Really inspiring movie.

I should not be revealing more of the movie if i were to give you any incentive to give this a shot either at the theater (if available) or by renting a DVD.

Here is the trailer if you would like to have a glimpse before you take a decision.

Trailer - Mao's Last Dancer (Source: IMDb)

I am sure you would love it just as I did...

Enjoy !

The 19th of Sep, 2005

2010-09-20T08:15:00.002+08:00

It was the same day, 5 years ago, 1000 odd fresh graduates began their careers with Infosys technologies limited (www.infosys.com) at Mysore. I was one of them...

We have all come a long way since then. Some of us have ventured out on their own, some did their MBA, some others got into better opportunities and the rest have stayed back with Infosys. Irrespective of where we are today, we can never forget the day when all this began...

It was a bright and sunny day at Mysore, India - the location which hosts Infosys' state of the art campus. We were being told that we were the first batch which has crossed 1000 mark - a feat which seemed a great deal then. These many graduates joining the same day would put tremendous pressure on logistics within the campus, we thought !! But to the surprise of almost all of us, the stay was as smooth as an ice cream from Baskin Robbins.

The facilities were extraordinary - right from the Global education center to the multiplex (we were amongst the lucky ones to witness its inauguration too) to the cafeterias to the hostels. Every aspect of our stay was way beyond our imagination. Of course, i should not make the mistake of not mentioning the lush green cricket ground (which hosted a ranji trophy match) or the swimming pool or the badminton courts (which complied with global standards). The bowling alleys, too, were amongst the best in the world.The hostels had a formation of 'INFOSYS' when seen from the top.

We were too overwhelmed by the campus and the facilities provided. The training, too, was amongst the best in the industry. Possibly, no other organization had such a rigorous training which made sure that we are unto our jobs when we left the campus...

When i look back today - i realize that those were actually golden days and we were amongst the lucky ones to have witnessed this experience right at the beginning of our careers..

As I look back i also realize that i may possibly not be able to work for an organization as ethical, as professional, as competitive, as flexible as Infosys...

Feels bad that i am no more part of this great organization - but the foundation it has built would remain as is throughout my career..

!! Dedicated to fellow batch mates of 19th September, 2005 @ Infosys, Mysore !!

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Location:Boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest,Montreal,Canada

Sri Tathata

2010-09-18T11:28:00.002+08:00

Just back from a session of Sri Tathata ('He who is that' in Sanskrit). He is a saint born in Kerala, India - spent some years in solitude until he found the purpose of his life. Presently, he is on a world tour spreading awareness on 'Dharma' - which is the core to all his teachings. More info at www.sritathata.org

I must say i am pretty impressed with his group. It was a short and brief no-nonsense session. He was an epitome of simplicity and humility.

However, the highlight of the session was the bhajans - customized to western audience. These are the same bhajans which i would not even bother to listen in those rare trips to temples in India. The ones here had the same wordings but the rhythm was so exceptional that it almost succeeds in taking you to trance. I am really amazed by how the same 'Hari Om' can bring about such an impact.

One more factor which i noticed was that i was the only Indian in the 200 odd audience. Is it because all this is embedded in our blood cells or is it sheer ignorance - I do not know !

Anyways, new ideas - new thoughts - helps you lubricate your mind !!

Let's see whats next...

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Location:Montreal

Trans Canada Trail - Segment St Tite Des Caps

2010-09-09T09:02:00.002+08:00

This one should be a fitting reply to all those Canadian jokes floating around !

After ten months of being awestruck by US (less than a month from Colorado & then Texas), i finally decide to look back at Canada for some new hikes.

The Trans Canada trail (http://www.tctrail.ca/home.php) is a 18000+ Km trail which runs across Canada. It is still under construction in almost all provinces - However, there are some segments which are already open to public.

So, I decide to do some research on getting information on hikes in and around Quebec. I was disappointed with the information available on the net and hence purchased the Trans Canada trail manual for Quebec which has all the details of the trail within Quebec. The Quebec trail connects Ontario in the west to New Brunswick in the east.

I read the manual thoroughly and decide on a segment which begins from St. Tite Des Caps. The full segment is a 3 night/4 day trek of 37 Kms - However, after realising my stamina (or lack of it!) from the recent Colorado trek, i lock down an itinerary for 1 night/2 Days.
Rias, a friend of mine, was also looking for some adventure in his life (not that he didnt have any in his life !! His story some other time)joined me - So, the adventure begins with just 2 people...

After my previous blunder of overestimating public transport during my skydive session (http://athmagyaan.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-first-skydive.html), I do thorough research on how to reach the trailhead. In fact, there was also a contingency plan - just in case we miss public transport timings.
So, everything was set and our itinerary for DAY 1 looked something like this:

SATURDAY, 4th Sept
0400 AM : Get ready
0500 AM : Leave for Berri-Uqam
0600 AM : Take the bus for Quebec
0915 AM : Arrive Quebec
0945 AM : Intercar to Saint Tite Des Caps
1025 AM : Arrive Saint Tite Des Caps
1030 AM-1200 PM : Finish Breakfast and reach trailhead
1200 PM - 1230 PM : Finish formalities at Visitor’s center
1230 PM – 0630 PM : Reach Camp Gribane
0630 PM – 0730 PM : Setup tent
0800 PM : Dinner/Snacks
0830 PM : Go to sleep

Everything seemed perfect and we were tracking to plan. We reached the trailhead on time (despite getting lost for a Km or so !!!)

Just at the start of the trail

Rias at the start of the trail

The trek was arduous and there were frequent uphill climbs. However, the uphill climbs were not very steep and always had a downhill or a flat patch following them.

Pose time

There were quite a few view points on the way - However, almost all of them had pretty long detours from the trail. But, we went to all of them despite not being able to see anything due to fog !! The fog/cloud cover had made our lives easy as hiking a trail like this under heavy sunlight would dehydrate you pretty fast and you could have trouble if you dont have enough water.

Courtesy: Rias & the wide angle lens

For your interpretation !!

At the crossing of various trails - bright spot for getting lost

Rias' prayers were answered and we got some sunlight !!

However, as we neared the camp site, the cloud cover was clearing up and the last couple of view points gave us some breath-taking views of St Laurence river (the largest river in Canada !).. The wide angle lens, which we had rented for this ocassion, was put to use in the best possible manner..

A look back at the dense vegetation

The mighty St Lawrence river !

We managed to reach the campsite as per plan, somewhere around 5PM. We setup our tent and were feeling really happy that almost everything was perfect until then - the weather, public transport, the trail..

Thats when we realised that things were not going to be that way for long !! We had forgotten our water filter and the water at campsite was not fit for drinking. Luckily for us, there were couple more tents at the campsite and we were offered help by a generous group. We filled our hydration packs for the trip back next day. We had been on a bar (energy bars - just in case you thought something else !) diet for the last 7-8 hours and were starving for some food. This was exactly the mistake we had made at Colorado when we had starved ourselves throughout the day went the nigth without dinner..

I was getting a feel that the 'rainy colorado night' was repeating itself...

Having no other option, we munched a couple of bars each and slept (Actually, I slept and Rias was on the phone with 'You know whom' !!). And it did rain hevily. We could hear the sound of water hitting the tent - rain coupled with heavy winds can be very distressing during a hike. It would have been really tough if things didnt improve the next day. We just hoped things would get better...
We got up after a good night's sleep (unlike Colorado) in single digit temperatures and moderate wind. The best part was that it was NOT raining. We packed our stuff, thanked the guys who had helped us last night and head back to the trail head which about 10KMs away.
The hike back was again very pleasant we were going through a dense forest and the sun was busy playing hide and seek with the clouds..

We reach the trailhead on time (in fact much before time as the way back was through a different trail - much shorter but more steeper).

There are shorter hikes for kids

Rias trying to be different !!

We had a 4 hr wait before the bus comes in - this is the worst part of taking public transit. The waits are inevitable...

What next??

However, we were really satisfied with the entire hike - It was more or less an ideal hike with the best possible weather conditions.

Coming up next: Ski season !!

Cowboy land

2010-09-01T12:05:00.001+08:00

An official trip leads me to Austin, Capital of Texas. There is no marked difference in terms of people (nothing i could see) of this part of the world. Pretty much like any other North American city. Of course, the only weird thing you find is that all T shirts read "Keep Austin weird" !!

The highlight of austin is 6th Street in Downtown, which has some really nice pubs with live music and lots of action. Austin is also has the main campus of University of Texas - one of the better known universities in North America.

Austin is also famous for having the highest urban 'bat' population in the world. The bridge hosts about 1.5 million bats which migrate to Mexico every winter. Every evening around sunset these bats evolve from under the bridge forming a spectacular view. Unfortunately, i was not lucky enough to see as many bats - Part of the game when it comes to any nature watching activity..

Not a very eventful trip - Business was eventful though !!

Coming up next is 'Trans Canada Trail'...

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Colorado - A Trekker's paradise !!

2010-08-28T05:54:00.002+08:00

I owe an apology for hurting the sentiments of my fellow trekkers by calling 'Capitol' a 'hill' in my previous blog (Last line of http://athmagyaan.blogspot.com/2010/08/knee-boarding-lake-archambault.html).
As I realise now, it certainly was an understatement to a great extent. It turned out to be one amongst the highest and toughest peaks in the US. Hope this offers some solace to my terribly deeply hurt fellow trekkers...

Now back to Capitol and its story ...

So, my tryst with the US continues. I have travelled more in the US than in Canada now in the past ten months or so (Canadian jokes are NOT welcome please !!). I was accidentally counting the number of US stamps on my passport and realised that this one was the 5th in the last ten months ! And I must say, each of these five trips have been uniquely different. The diversity is amazing - reminds me of the diversity at home (India) and doesn't fail to entice me into more trips into the US...

Image Source - WikiPedia.org
Colorado - Welcome to the land of mountains. A land where all four directions lead to mountains (I am exaggerating of course !). A land for which 'exquisite' would be an understatement (No exaggeration here !).

All the pre-planning was just about perfect. Our group consisted of networking bonds (Pushkar, Rahul), Vertical thinkers (Ali Sagar Oops Asgar - Chances of seeing him on the ground are bleak, the one who introduced me into skydiving), no-life-without-internet always-online apple geeks(Deepak 'twitter' Iyer), Apple veterans (Thai Wey), expert photographers (Tannu of the Sushi fame - He has just landed in US after a 5 yr stint in Sushi Land) and 2 undergrad classmates of Pushkar.

From Left to Right (Athma, Deepak, Ali, Rahul, Pushkar, Thai Wey, Ady (Alias Aditya Tannu))

The trip begins with a bang - All our flights were cancelled. A terrible coincidence considering the fact that our flights were from Montreal (QC, Canada), Raleigh (NC, US) and San Francisco(CA, US). I somehow manage to get another flight to reach Denver on time along with Tannu who flew in from LA. The others could not start their journey...

Luckily, Pushkar was able to arrange stay for us in Boulder at one of his undergrad friend's place.

DAY 1: University of Colorado, Boulder downtown, Rocky Mountain National Park

Now Tannu and myself (later on joined by Ali) had half a day in Boulder before rest of the gang sets foot in Colorado. We went around picturesque Boulder clicking pictures at will.

Near University of Colorado

University of Colorado

Tannu at University of Colorado

Ali n Myslef at Boulder downtown (Just after tannu returned with his lost wallet!!)

After spending some time in Boulder, we were joined by the rest and we headed to Rocky Mountain National Park, which offered some outstanding views. Here is just a sample:

Not sure what we were trying to show !! None of us had a great built...

Ohh.. Actually one amongst us did have a great built! (Courtesy Tannu)

Wide angle cameras can do wonders !! (Courtesy Tannu)

After this exquisite drive, we head to our camp site where we were to spend the night before we head to starting point of Capitol Peak the next day.

Inside Tent No 1.

DAY 2: Ride to Capitol Peak trailhead, Hike upto Capitol Lake

After spending the night in our sleeping bags we head to what was the main objective of our trip - Capitol Peak. If I were to provide an analogy - If this entire trip was dinner, then Capitol Peak was main course, Rocky Mountain/Boulder was Dessert and flight journeys to and from Denver were Salt and Pepper !! (You are not the only one still trying to interpret this !! )
We start the day early and start the drive towards starting point of the hike to Capitol Peak. We halt around one of the lakes for breakfast. And every stop is reason enough for some more photos !!

The three musketeers

Tannu's magic again !

After a nice breakfast, which we didnt realise was going to be our last meal of the day, we head towards the trailhead of Capitol. We were running late and had to do a good job if were to reach Capitol lake by Sunset.

Just before we began the hike

The majestic Capitol Peak visible right at the center towards the far end (Image Courtesy: Ali)

Ali n Thai Wey on the trail (Image Courtesy: Ali) - Capitol still visible in the background

Rahul on the Trail (Image Courtesy: Ali)

It has been a long time since i did my last trek (Jivdhan-Naneghat, Maharashtra, India, 2005) and all that showing up. Adding on to this was the carbon monoxide (for your interpretation !) intake which had done significant damage to my stamina. I was lagging behind frequently and somebody had to stay back with me all throughout just to make sure i make it to the end.

But, I did push myself and was able to reach Capitol Lake (the lake just before final summit of Capitol Peak).

It had begun raining by the time we reached capitol lake and dark too as we missed our timelines. Figuring out vacant campsites itself was tough. Our ordeal continued. The rain didnt stop and by the time we had our tents erected, we were wet and cold. My jacket was not holding up water as i would have liked it to.

There was water seeping in through some ends of the tent as a result of us trying to fix it up during rain. Finally, we succeeded in setting up all 3 tents and managed to get in and change clothes which by then had taken in lots of water. None of us were in the mindset to setup cooking stoves and start cooking. We decided to manage the night with just nuts and energy bars. The last meal we had was more than 14 hours ago !!

So here we were at 12000 ft, trying to catch up with some sleep amidst heavy rain and thunder.

DAY 3: Capitol Peak - The FINAL Summit

After about 4 hours of sleep we get up to a completely overcast sky with slight rain still dampening our hopes of making it to the top. We have some bagels and get started for the summit leaving our main bags behind and carrying only our summit bags. Gatorade powder was added to each of our water containers, later to be filled in at the lake.

At about 430 AM, we head to Capitol lake to fill our water containers. Thai Wey and Rahul were working hard with the water filter to make sure all of us had our containers filled.

Rain was still hitting hard, the sky was overcast with no stars visible even on a no-moon night. The last 2000 ft or so had the famous 'Knife Ridge' which was a narrow rock patch with vertical falls on either sides. That patch is risky and sometimes fatal (as per wiki) even during a regular bright sunny day. The chances of making the final summit in such weather was really bleak.

I was the first one to QUIT.

I dropped out and insisted on going back to the tent and wait till the others return. I was no more enjoying the hike and there was no point in continuing the same way.

This sparked an intense discussion which was capable of giving a scare to any of the corporate boardroom discussions. Here is how it was structured:

If we make a decent pace for the next 1000ft (which was a regular hike), then we could be at the knife ridge for sunrise, if at all we have one. The summit might be possible if the knife ridge is dry and has good visibility. If the weather doesnt clear up, we make the hike back to our tents and then to the trail head.

There were 5 (out of 9) of us who were betting on the odds of weather clearing up and continuing the hike. The rest, 4 of us, decide to go back to the tent, catch up some sleep and wait for the others - This would enable us to be ready for the hike back which again was not an easy task for somebody like me (at this point of time).

So, 5 amongst us continued. 2 more dropped out after an hour or so and 3 (Ali, Thai Wey n Deepak) continued on till the start of the knife ridge. Luckily for them, the weather had cleaned up. In fact, we could see them from our tents through 10X optical zoom cameras.

Now, there was another issue at hand. Ali had a flight later during the day and with the pace at which they were able to make progress on the knife ridge - there was a bright possibility of him missing his flight. Adding on more troubles was my passport, which was with Deepak, who was one amongst the three who were making the attempt to the top!!

The 'Knife Ridge'

The 'Knife Ridge'

Ali at the 'Knife Ridge'
Deepak at the 'Knife Ridge'
Thai Wey at the 'Knife Ridge'
The photos they have taken are stunning.. The knife ridge is the highlight of Capitol Peak and we were all disappointed that even those three had to return half way...

Since it would take them considerable time to head back, we six (4+2) head back to trail head.

We return rental gear in Aspen and visit Maroon Bells to have a look at one more majestic peak (14000ft+) in Colorado before heading to Denver Airport.

The Deadly bells disclaimer !

All turns out well - All of us are able to reach on time. I get my passport on time (my 'on time' considers immigration at US airports too !!).

We leave Colorado slightly disappointed but really happy that we were atleast lucky to attempt Capitol. We head back with the learning that we need to respect weather and listen to what it says & along with the fact that these enormous peaks are more a test of mental strength rather than physical endurance.

If all goes well, we might land up same time next year for the same hike - Possibly a different result !! That leaves enough time for me to build myself up !!

Photo courtesy:

All Images from Aditya Tannu (http://www.adityatannu.com/) unless otherwise specified.

Knee boarding @ Lake Archambault

2010-08-02T09:13:00.001+08:00

There is always a first time for everything - And, the 'first' time beats 'any' time (almost for everything!!)

This was a first for me with regards to getting down to doing something crazy on (not IN) water.
The occasion: Get together at TATA @ one of our colleagues cottage next to the lake.
The lake offers some really great views of the mountains that surround it. Peace... Well, not really - you would always hear some speed boat zooming past. The day begins with swimming in the water (with a life jacket - Still learning. The learning curve concept doesnt seem to be working in this case!! ) for a good hour or so. Just about half an hour after i got into it - there were some thunder storms and they were followed by mild rain. It was lovely lying on the water facing up towards the sky looking at the falling droplets of cold rain water. One of the best experiences i have had in my life.

As the day progresses, the boats are readied up for some adrenaline pump for all those who are upto the challenge. Two boats (owned by colleagues - brought down to the lake for the occasion) do rounds taking 4-5 people into a ride which promises a gear shift in your adrenaline levels.
I take my turn and ready myself for what is going to be my first tryst with water....

There are couple of colleagues who take the plunge before me into water skiing and knee boarding. I await for the right time and decide to DO IT despite my reapeated unsuccessful attempts at learning swimming...

We are now at the middle of the lake and I am supposed to take a dive into the water from the boat to reach the knee board. This is the very moment which immediately brings back my memories of diving from a plane from 13000 ft (http://athmagyaan.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-first-skydive.html )

I do IT and reach the knee board to experience a one-of-a-life time event.
Knee boarding works like this:

First you are to lie flat on the board and the speed starts dragging you.

Then as you become somewhat stable, you attempt to climb up on to the board
When you are completely stable, you would have a postion like what is shown below

Then you try to leave the board and hold on to the handle of the rope. At this point the only point of contact between the board and you is your knees. This is a position which may not be easy to hold on for long for beginners

This step only for beginners !! - One of the strategies which i adopted for the fall was to plan it 5 secs in advance so that I was able to take a clean jump far from the board - Otherwise, a board hit can cause considerable damage at those speeds.

The summer in Canada is as great as the winter !!!

Now looking forward to the grand Colorado (USA) hike of Capital hill (14000ft+) which begins the first week of August...

F1 live @ Montreal

2010-06-13T21:46:00.001+08:00

F1 is back in Montreal after a gap of two years !!

Even though I have never been a keen follower of F1, i decided to give it a visit just to see why this race has so much of craze... And to be honest, now i understand why !!!

The race track opens at 7AM for a race that is to begin at 2PM (there were other small races though before the grand finale). We (Amol, Haresh & I) were at the gates at 630AM only to realise that there were atleast 200 odd people who were before us !!

We were still amongst the early birds and hence could search for a nice viewing spot with the comfort of both proximity as well as big screen visibility. We had general admission tickets and hence reaching early was absolutely necessary to get a decent spot...

The day begins with F1600 and we were amazed even with their speeds not knowing that we had better things to come. Then there was a driver's parade with all F1 drivers sitting behind (for a change) on vintage cars and going at possibly 5% of their original speeds. We got a nice glimpse of Schumy, Hamilton & Others from just about 10m.

Finally, the moment arrives and the grand finale sets off. Haresh was able to find some space right up front to get this video of the very first lap...

The sound of the cars goes right through you - it gives a feel of the speeds at which these cars ply. From where we were standing, we could see them going past us just about 10 metres away!! We were located on the straight stretch just after a hairpin bend and hence could get the exact feel of maximum speeds that these guys can reach...

And of course, the Force India guys gave a tough time to Schumi - gave us another reason to cheer !!

It is grand stand next time !!

Ottawa - The city that rules Canada

2010-05-24T08:35:00.001+08:00

Ottawa - the capital of Canada - a nicely landscaped city.

There is an annual Tulip festival (http://www.tulipfestival.ca/) each summer at Ottawa and this one being my first summer in North America - I decided to give it a visit. Wend along with Haresh, Amol, Aditi & Junior Arnav...

The history behind this festival goes like this:

Some princess of Netherlands gave a gift of 100,000 tulips to Ottawa since this was the city that offered shelter to the royal family during WWII. Since then it has become a sign of international friendship between the two countries and the also the world's largest Tulip festival that brings in more than $50 Mn to the Canadian economy each year !

The city has a charm in its greenery and the thoroughly thought of landscaping.. And since we were travelling with our favorite tour operator 'Wonder Travels' (http://www.wondertravel.net/) - we also were taken to the parliament building, and a museum apart from the festival.

Haresh and me trying some crazy stuff to make the museum more lively !!!

The colours at the Tulip festival were indeed really vibrant and these photographs below are testimony to that...

All in all, a nice short one day outing !!

Lets see what next !!

Open to ALL !!!

2010-04-10T11:51:00.001+08:00

You are at the airport about to board a flight to another country. You are informed that there are no security/baggage checks and no VISAs are required for any destination. You land at your destination and receive the same hospitality as your home country. The regulations are in favour of trade and result in better relationships between countries involved. Companies are flourishing, people not only seem happy but are indeed happy. All this seems so ideal to you. You are so used to negativity at every level in your life that this situation seems way off the norm. So, you pinch yourself to make sure you are where 'you think you are' - Only to realise that it is 4AM on a weekday night and you have your bedroom closet to your right !!!

Welcome back to the world we live in today - a world which has divided us on every possible opportunity - Be it citizenship, color, religion, caste, health, wealth etc.

A truly 'Open' world would be exactly what was just described as a dream - the boundaries cease to exist and there is equal opportunity for ALL.
But, before we fantasize such a world, it would be a good idea to perform a reality check of where we might land up with if just extrapolate the present...

There is a lot of talk about Globalization 'opening' up the world economy and providing better opportunities to countries that are in need.

Wiki states globalisation as "An ongoing process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a globe-spanning network of communication and trade"
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalization).

Essentially, globalisation dilutes barriers for trade and creates an ecosystem which enables seamless interaction between countries. And, one of the most commonly used form of interaction these days is 'Outsourcing'.

China, India and the like are great outsourcing hubs today primarily due to the cost advantages they offer. Chances are bright that in 25 (or maybe 50 if the world doesn't get destroyed in 2012!!) years from now, these countries would lose their advantage to some Latin American country or possibly, an African country. Chances are even brighter that these countries might lose 'it' to some others and this may continue until we reach a point where there is no relative advantage in outsourcing. Because, outsourcing is nothing but arbitrage and by nature, arbitrage is temporary and would be washed off in a limited period of time.
Even if we don't limit ourselves to Outsourcing, every other trade opportunity is some way or the other related a specific advantage of a country - and in a vague sense, a modified form of the concept of outsourcing.

But, the point that is worth thinking on is:

"How would this globalized world be without any arbitrage opportunities???"

"How would trade conduct itself when opportunities in foreign markets don't offer any (or very marginal) advantage over home markets?? "
There certainly would be some exchange of commodities which are a direct output of geographical advantage of some countries. But apart from that, there would not be any incentive for countries to trade. The flip side of this situation is that countries would make an attempt to create a niche for themselves to differentiate.

And this attempt would be a revival for us and hopefully would lead us to a world of equal opportunities and we might just get another chance to rectify our mistakes.

However if we do get this opportunity to rebuild, in our race for health and wealth - we should not forget that we have all evolved from the same bacteria which was the origin of life on this planet !!! After all, Source is as important as the Destination !!!

And if we succeed - Only then will it truly be 'OPEN TO ALL'...

Why are you here?

2010-03-29T01:33:00.001+08:00

I knew you would be here - But, unfortunately this is not a trick !! These are INDEED posts that you can skip !

You may now want to browse other segments...

Enjoy the read !

Night Ski @ Bromont !!!

2010-03-04T12:51:00.001+08:00

Just back from a lovely day (Oops night) of Skiing at Bromont.
Bromont is about 100kms from Montreal and has 95 trails during the day and about 60 during the night.. Did some of the largest of beginner slopes...
These were the largest i have been on till now and it was splendid... Did 6 slopes and fell more than the number of slopes !! But, i can sense the confidence and improvement in technique.

Went with: Fionan (Snowboard) & Pierre

Would most probably make one more trip next week...

Bromont rocks!!!

New York - Washington DC

2010-02-23T12:31:00.001+08:00

Finding a reason for travel is actually easy...

One of my friends & ex VIT'ian, Daroga (I am not the only one with a funny name !!!) was on a business trip to US and Ashish (Another friend & Classmate of VIT) planned a perfect itinerary for New York and Washington DC. Makes me wonder again - Does staying abroad improve bonds? (I was in Mumbai for one full year and these guys were located 160kms east in Pune and we never bothered to meet there!!)

So, it was all set. I was to fly down from Montreal and Daroga was to fly UP from Memphis (Dont bother to google it - it is located east central US - in the state of Tennessee) - We were to meet in Newark. Ashish was to drive down to our hotel at Newark. The plan was to cover New York on Saturday and visit Washington DC the next day. Since we had limited time in our hands, we had to prioritise our plan and decided to visit 'Not to be missed' places in both cities...

DAY 1:

We started off with the statue of liberty. Unfortunately, by the time we reached the ferry, tickets to the crown were already sold out. Nevertheless, we had a lot of fun discussing the future of Daroga... As long as it is not your future, it is always fun to discuss !!! Daroga's logic is beyond the comprehension of mortal human beings...

Me just before taking the ferry to Statue of Liberty...

Ashish n Daroga

Just before taking the ferry...

The city called New York !!!

We took the ferry only to realise that it is an overrated monument. Nevertheless, we indulged in some photgraphy all while we were discussing Daroga's future - Me n Ashish were speaking as if we were born out of a wisdom tree !!! Well, as long as YOU are not the center of the discussion it is always easy to give advices and we were doing just that !!!

Daroga's logic captured in my lens !!!

Here's one for the camera..

And one more...

Probably some more people might have had the same experience when they visited it for the first time. It certainly is an archaelogical wonder and is a great place but somehow i personally felt it is too much hyped. We indulged ourselves in some photographs and then in shopping.

It was time for our return ferry back to Jersey where we had come from. Incidentally, Jersey city has a lot if Indians/Asians - not sure why. Probably New York may be very costly to stay and hence people may prefer to do up-down from Jersey city. We head straight to New York from there.

We reach WTC and the site which was wrecked a few years back. The memorial there takes you back to images and stories of what happened some years back. A few moments later we are at a restaurant having a sumptuous meal of chicken and pizza. A few moments and a few cigarettes later,we start walking on the famous streets of New York. New York is best experienced when you walk. You get to feel the atmosphere and the ooze of people around you. It had been a while since i had seen so many people together... Canada is not so densely populated - probably because of the harsh weather and Montreal has just the right number of people to give the warmth it gives...

For the next 3-4 hrs we were on the streets of New York seeing some places which would have been on the 'To-do' list of many people across the world. The New York stock exchange, wall street, empire state building, the raging bull, Times square...

The bull that is not running these days !!!

New York Stock Exchange...

The stree that changes fortunes !!!

Top view of New York from Empire State building (107th floor)

Times square was full of life and you can feel the energy as soon as you reach. Glittering advertisements and equally glittering women !!... It certainly would feature as one of the best in my memories for a long time.

After spending some time at Times Square we head back to Jersey City where we had parked our car. Time for us to head to Philly where we had booked a hotel for the night..

DAY 2:

Early in the morning (9AM it is !!!), we start our journey towards the Capital of US, Washington DC. DC has enough stuff and history to keep you rooted for 3-4 days. Plenty of museums and memorials which take you back to 'those' times of war. Great place to know more about American history. We had just enough time for White house, Lincoln Memorial, war memorial, Vietnam war memorial and Capitol house (the Parliament). Walking on the frozen water body in front of the Lincoln memorial was real good fun and watching Ashish fall through one of the holes was even more fun !!

White house...

DC is a 'must see' for history lovers and other lovers too !!!

Just as there is an end for everything, this one too had one. I had to go to Matawan (small township in NJ) to report at our office the next day for some official work...
And we part, after a wonderful two days of fun and great sight seeing. I must say it was well planned by Ashish who took the pains to fix up everything beforehand...

Now looking forward to my next trip...

Don't know where it is going to be !!!

My First Night Ski !!! - Mount St Bruno

2010-02-08T13:07:00.001+08:00

Skiing under lights has its own fun..

This being the first time i got the size of Ski boots right, the one hour ski was lovely !!!

Fionan(the snowboard champ) n me

Looking forward to next sunday !!! This is just getting better !!!

Chalo Amreeka - Part 2 (Fresno - Los Angeles - San Jose - San Francisco - Squaw Valley - Fresno - Montreal)

2010-01-29T07:55:00.001+08:00

After Las Vegas it was time for that portion of the trip which was the main reason why this trip was planned - Meeting my Uncle/Aunt at Fresno & a mini VIT(http://www.vit.edu/) alumni re-union. The Las Vegas leg of the trip had already given me the thrill that was reserved for this half.

After meeting my uncle and aunt at Fresno i head for Universal studios, Hollywood (http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/). So, i set off on my journey to Los Angeles. The 3 hr drive is scenic especially the grapevine portion of the journey. (they call it the 'grapevine' probably because of the vineyards that California is famous for)

Sameer (a friend of my uncle - I was staying at his place in LA) tells me that LA has not had this kind of weather in the past quite some time. There were heavy rains forecast for the day I was supposed to be in Universal studios, Hollywood. That was certainly not going to be a reason for me to change my decision of visiting Universal. I had already purchased the pass and was in no mood to cancel it...
So, amongst heavy rains i head to Universal studios expecting it to be a thorough entertainer.
The universal studios pass costs about $70 for 2 days per person and each penny of it is worth it. (though may not be that appealing when you go the second time) There are a variety of rides like the Simpson's' family ride, Jurassic park, The studio tour, terminator 3d, shrek 4d, the horror show etc. You may not be able to cover all of them in a single day though. So, I decided to prioritise and get to the ones that i cannot afford to miss.

Shrek 4D was the first in the list. This was first of a kind experience which takes you right into the movie and gives you the feel of you being one of the characters in the movie. I can clearly remember the scene when Shrek rides a horse and my seat was resonating along with the horse. And then, there was this scene where Shrek spits on the donkey and you can feel something wet on your face. It is a gripping half an hour which,possibly, is not to be seen anywhere else.

Then it was the turn of Terminator 3D which has an amazing mix of real life and reel life characters. There is a scene when 'Arnold' rides his bike from the theatre and heads straight into the screen and then the real character comes in the screen and the perfect sync makes you feel as if the guy who was riding next to you is the one who is projected on the screen.. And then, there are these real robots in the theatre which are also part of some scenes and the timing again is perfect to give you the feel that these have actually come out of the screen.

The horror show is something which is not for the faint-hearted. There are real ghosts - ghost which are 6.5-7 ft+, which come out of nowhere and scare you to death... There are some rules to be followed - The 'ghosts' cannot touch you and neither can you touch them. As you walk around the maze, which is perfect for any thriller, you get the feel of being one of those characters in 'Dracula' or 'Evil dead'. Caution to be exercised - this certainly is NOT for the weak...

And then, there is this 'Studio tour' which takes you around Universal and you can see sets that you can clearly recollect in some movies. There are streets of France next to those of Italy and to those of India. It is amazing how these streets can be used to represent any country by just a few 'top of the line' changes.

Advanced robotics at play - For those bomb blasts in movies

There are also remains of some recent movies that were just shot there. I could see the debris from Stephen Spielberg's War of the worlds - Amongst them, a Boeing 737 which was purchased just for the movie.

There are also some preserved remains of Jurassic park which take us straight to the scenes of the movie - the cage where it breaks free, the car which is used for 'Jurassic Park' tour and some others.

The cage in Jurassic Park

And then, once in a while a dinosaur comes in from the sides and scares you. There is also a stage in this where you are standing in the way of a flood.

Not to forget - the complimentary hot chocolate and the entertainment between shows...

I head back to Fresno, to travel to San Jose where we VIT'ians decided to meet. And so we meet -
Pushkar - ex VIT'ian - the planner for all our trips - Networking champ from Cisco
Ali Sagar - ex VIT'ian - There is nothing great to tell about him
SV Rahul Raju - ex VIT'ian - He has a longer name than me if we open up all the initials (Yippee!!!)
Deepak Iyer - the iPod-iPad guy - we were having a tough time recollecting the last trek (Rajgad) we had done together in India - I didn't accept until Pushkar proved it with photographs of that trek - still could not recollect though...
Prakash 'Bangalore' Prabhakar - the graphics guy who works for nVidia - The ONLY Ski beginner with me !!!

We 'Six' were to drive to SQUAW valley (http://www.squaw.com/) over the weekend and ski there for 2 days. We had to rent 2 cars from the airport - There is a good logic here which was explained by Pushkar to me:
Even if you own a car - you should rent a car when you go for a long trip because (especially if you travel often)
- Your maintenance cost is embedded in the rent, else you would have to send your car for servicing because you have run quite a few miles
- Your car resale value is impacted with more miles

So, we were all set for SQUAW. However, we had one more plan for the day - San Francisco...

Ali, Prakash, Onkar (another VIT batch mate) n me drove through Freeway No 1 to San Francisco, all along the coast.

Ali n Prakash sharing a 'private' joke !!!

It is a lovely drive with outstanding beauty on either sides of the road and is something not to be missed at any cost. We did stop at one of the points where we were able to get a glimpse of sunset by standing just on the coast. This what they call 'California' and i was not surprised because i was ridiculed in Canada when i said i was going to California to SKI...
We drove for about 3 hrs and reached the dream city of San Francisco. With whatever limited exposure i have of this world, this is the ONLY city which does not have mixed reviews. It has something or the other for each one of us with different perspectives of life.

Well, there were some more VIT'ians meeting us at San Francisco and this makes me wonder if staying at remote locations does help in bonding people. I have never met as many VIT'ians together in the last five years in India.
We had a nice dinner at a Thai (was it Chinese??) place and we six of us headed back to San Jose to leave early the next day to SQUAW Valley.

It was well past midnight by the time we reached San Jose and we had just about 4 hrs of sleep ahead of us.

Unlike other treks in India, this time around we get delayed in the morning by about an hour and a half. Treks in India used to be mostly on time with Pushkar micromanaging stuff. To add on more agony to our souls, was the traffic jam that was awaiting us en route SQUAW.
It is like this: If you get late - the roads penalise you with more traffic on a Saturday morning on most of the routes in this geography.

But considering the exquisitenes of the route, the wait doesn't seem that long. Scenic beauty follows you on either sides of the road and turns the wait into a boon...

Here is how SQUAW Valley looks like...

So, we headed to the slopes without checking in to our hotel (Pushkar got a great deal with Hyatt). Me n Prakash 'Bangalore' Prabhakar were at the beginner slopes while the rest were headed to the advanced ones. One thing i noticed was that the beginner slopes @ SQUAW were equivalent of an intermediate slope at Mount St Bruno where i normally go when in Montreal. But, St Bruno is a great place for beginners and offers great deals too!!

We had a lovely time at the slopes. There was strong snowfall which made our experience even better.. Snowfall during SKI is better because it gives a surface of smooth snow to the slopes which make SKIing more enjoyable and 'falls' more bearable... However, it may cause visibility to be poor at higher slopes. The snow hits you right on your face when take the lift to head to the top of the slope. You normally don't realise it when coming down the slopes because you have thousand other things to think on...

After about 3 hrs of SKI,Prakash n Me headed back to our hotel after the day SKI. The advanced guys stayed back for a night SKI which seemed to be great but was open only for the advanced slopes. The advanced guys (Pushkar, Rahul, Ali n Deepak) enjoyed the night SKI before heading back to the hotel in one of the cars.

At the hotel, we are given an option of rooms opening into each other and we opt for them. Gave us a feel of those old Hindi movies where drug dealings used to happen in 'joined rooms' which open into each other. Me n Prakash have a nice dinner with Wine and great discussion too on wines & Corporate culture (they were two different topics though)...

We were looking up to the next day when we expected more hours of SKIing.

I was to return to Fresno that day to catch my return flight to Montreal. But, plans are made only to be changed later...

We started our journey to the slopes and we could not resist stopping at the picturesque lake Tahoe.

Here is how it looks: You have a vast expanse of water in front of you with snow capped mountains towards the end of your sight.

This cannot be captured in any image and has to be felt there. This was one of the best I have seen in my entire life of treks and travel. We spent some time there and took some photos but nothing could capture what we saw !

We head straight to the slopes and again we had good snow to make the entire experience even better. Me n Prakash, after SKIing on the beginner slopes for the entire day, decide to take one of the intermediate slopes on our way back - a decision which we felt had its pros and cons.
Pros: It was a great challenge for our technique - and this is the way you get better.
Cons: The timing was probably incorrect. Our legs were already tired and we could not help falling infinite times on this slope. Our legs just could not take it.

But this was a decision which made us more confident than ever despite those infinite falls.

Finally, we are done with two days of great fun. The advanced guys would have liked more hours of SKIing but the beginners were happy !!

We head back an hour before close to escape the traffic jam only to realise later that everybody was thinking like us.. A smooth journey is never that much fun when you look back at a trip. We had rented two 4X4 cars and I was in the 1st one driven by Pushkar. Since we had heavy snow, only 4X4 cars were allowed to ply without chains. At the checkpoint, we confidently claim to be on a 4X4 and clear the checkpoint. Our second car wasn't as lucky though. They were inspected and it turned out to be a 2X4. They were made to buy chains and tie them to the tires. This aroused some mixed feelings in us - We were swearing at the car dealer threatening to sue them for this; there was also a sense of insecurity which suddenly cropped up.
It is amazing how information can alter the way we react to situations. Had we not known about the fact that we were not on a 4X4, we would have driven like before and still reached safely. However, this 'enlightenment' caused a forced behavior in us - We drove much more safely now!!!
This reminds of the debate that ensues in Quebec (the province in which Montreal is located) on winter tyres being compulsory. These winter tyres give you a false sense of security which make you drive at higher than normal speeds for winter. Effectively, at an absolute scale - you are still at the same risk because you would have driven your car at X(normal tyres) rather than X+Y(with winter tyres). A good point to think on...

After a Chinese dinner, we reach San Jose just around midnight. Most of us were to leave for our destinations the next day. And so we do without any hiccups and all of us are able to catch our respective flights back 'home'.

As I take my return flight back to Montreal, I ponder over what I have gained in this trip. This being my first trip to the United States, it has been an eye opener in many respects. I am now exposed to the American culture - though in a limited manner; I have different benchmarks when i visit a new city - I have a broader set to compare it with; Las Vegas, Silicon city San Jose, San Francisco, Los Angeles - Each of these cities is so different from each other. This makes me realise that every culture is as diverse as any other - perspectives matter!!

Chalo Amreeka - Part I - (Montreal-Philadelphia-Las Vegas)

2010-01-28T07:55:00.001+08:00

And here comes my first vacation since i arrived here in Montreal.

This was the first time i am going to the US and that was clearly visible in the excitement for the entire trip. Learning from my past mistakes at Skydiving, did a thorough plan of travel along with all the associated arrangements.

THE FOOL-PROOF PLAN:

Here was the plan:

Montreal-Philadelphia-Las Vegas-Fresno-Los Angeles-Fresno-San Jose-San Francisco-Squaw Valley-Fresno-Montreal

Everything was set, right from matching flight timings along with a buffer to hotel arrangements to bus tickets to universal studios passes... Everything was ready beforehand.

Received a setback before i could leave Montreal. There is no fun in travel without any hiccups.

"No carry on bags allowed on flights from Canada to US. "

Paid $25 at the airport for no reason. Oh, there certainly was a reason - some fellow had tried something at Detroit airport and there is widespread panic around. And as if these measures are going to stop 'those' from attempting such acts. Well, had no option but to pay them and 'carry on' with my trip...

CHILLY PHILLY:

Arrived in Philadelphia after a bumpy flight due to bad weather near Philly. Well, this trip was getting better and better. Met a friend (BabbanRao aka Ashish) at Philly amidst heavy rains.

The weather gods were issuing a warning which i completely comfortably ignored...

I resumed my journey and was looking forward to Las Vegas, which i felt would possibly be the highlight of this 10 day trip...

SPECTACULAR VEGAS:

The exquisite view from top when the flight descends into Las Vegas raises your expectations of this beautiful, lively, 'light'ly city... Since the airport itself is located on one of the ends of the 'Strip', it is able offer a spectacular view at both take-off as well as landing. The 'Strip' is the stretch which Las Vegas is famous for and you could see this lined up with Casinos, hotels, strip clubs and anything that you may refer to as glamorous.

Keeping the rains in Philly behind, i decide to concentrate on this portion of the trip not knowing what was about to come..

THE SHUTTLE SAGA:

I take the shuttle, which operates from airport to any of the hotels, to reach my hotel. This is pretty much like any other shared transport in any part of the world. The shuttle stops at about 10-12 hotels before reaching mine - 'The Stratosphere' - The tallest hotel in the city with an observation tower on floor 107.

I get down the shuttle and go back to collect my bag - There is NO bag...
I call the driver who is as helpless as me. Somebody had, by mistake, taken my bag and left theirs in the shuttle. Jenny, the shuttle driver, innocently asks me to take the other black bag and be happy. I refuse and tell her to take it back to the airport and give her my number to inform me whenever the owner comes - so that we could exchange bags at the airport.

I was taking a risk knowing the fact that I had some cash in my bag apart from clothes and other stuff.
I made a decision. I am NOT going to waste my time behind the bag and spoil the night at Vegas and inform the driver that i would call her back the next day morning for the status.

And i check in and immediately leave for the observation deck. It was about 11 PM and the view from 107th floor would have been bright and lovely. I reach up (it was free as i was staying in the same hotel) and look down at Vegas as i enjoy my Budweiser...

The images are as hazy as my vision at that point of time !!!

It was time to get a feel of the city on the roads. Had a good 2 hr walk on the 'Strip' amidst glittering lights. It was well past 12 when i decided to do what people do in Vegas - Gambling. There were two temptations : Poker and Roulette. I go for the latter as i atleast had some chance of winning there !!!

I try to apply some logic to the game and bet on even and odd for quite some time. The strategy was working well. I was winning...
I had won as much as i had bet. But then, greed took over logic, and i started betting on set of 6 nos and then onto 1 number. Lost the entire amount. Fortunately, logic had found its way back and made me realise that if i bet more i stand the risk of going back to Canada with some debt !!

By then it was 2 AM and i realsied that i had forgotten my dinner in all the excitement...

I have a sumptuous dinner at a 24hr restaurant, which i am not able to complete. By the time i went to bed it was around 3 AM and i decide to call it 'EOD' knowing very well that i am going to have an equally exciting day tomorrow searching for my bag !!!

I get up at 9AM - Immediately call Jenny and she tells me that she has found my bag and starts cribbing about the impatient guy at the other end who had taken my bag. She tells me i was very patient - Well, she didnt know that i had other priorities.

I feel relieved and call up the airport to get the bags exchanged. There is NO bag at the airport. Looks like we still have some more fun left...

I call up Jenny again and tell her politely about the situation. She calls me back in half an hour to collect my bag from a hotel about 2 miles away. I am not excited this time - I would not be satisfied until i see the bag for myself !!!

Luckily for me, my bag was right there in the hotel Jenny mentioned. I call Jenny and thank for the swift action which made me get my bag just hours before my departure from Vegas. Actually, the bag too was not mine - i had borrowed it from my room mate !!!

After all this excitement in the past 24 hrs, I finally leave Las Vegas and head for Fresno to meet my Uncle and Aunt...

(To be Contd - Fresno-Los Angeles-Fresno-San Jose-San Francisco) )

Mont St Bruno - Ski Part 2

2010-01-18T07:45:00.001+08:00

And the weekend travails continue...

This time it was with our Irish snowboard champ Fionan. I can feel improvement in my technique and am beginning to enjoy it !!

I was tempted to count the number of times i fell on the slopes.. Have memories of counting till 15, but then eventually i lost count !! The reason for these many falls is the attempt i made at conquering a blue slope without much experience on green ones.. (Green is for beginners, blue for intermediate and black/double black for advanced). Well, learnt a lessson and a valuable one too.

Looking forward to Skiing at Squaw valley (California) with our fellow VIT'ians...

'Bose' Speaks !!!!

2009-12-28T09:09:00.002+08:00

Well, Athma is not the only person speaking... Got a new BOSE headset and experiencing sounds that i have never heard before.

BOSE rules !!

You got to listen to BOSE when it speaks... And you would !!!

MontMorency Falls & Quebec City

2009-12-25T05:56:00.001+08:00

And again, the weekend travails continue...

Saturday, 19th December 2009

This time it is the turn of Mont Morency falls followed by Quebec city in temperatures less than -20 Degree celsius.

We started the day early at Montreal - only to find that we had been alloted the last row in the bus which was similar to the one that features in the famous Fevicol Ad (Of course, we were not hanging from the bus as in the ad). Thanks to the well made roads, we had a pretty smooth journey. And a pretty cute one too...

<< One of those cute passengers with us >>

What came as surprise was that it was the same guide who had shown us Niagra falls. The same one who derives enormous pleasure in cracking jokes which are beyond the comprehension of normal human beings.. We decided to have some fun this time. And we were not alone in this effort - we were supported by a Florida university grad(Remember 'One of those cute passengers' !!!) who was also travelling with us in the last row.

We started laughing every time he laughed - be it in Chinese, French or English. And we were the only ones apart from him who laughed !!! This really made our journey easy. Each of his laughs were followed by a burst of laughter from the last row of the bus... This blog is a tribute to him !!!

We finally reached MontMorency without the knowledge of freezing temperatures on top. We were certainly aware that it could be cold, but the intensity was something which not anticipated by anyone. But it turned out to be a really pleasant encounter with the typical Canadian winter.

Time for some photos at the falls.

MontMorency falls is relatively unknown outside Canada but is much higher than even Niagara falls (Niagara is known for its width, whereas this one is for its height).
Though we could not see it in full flow as it would have been during summer, it certainly was a pleasant surprise for us.

Here is how it would have looked in summer:

Source: Wikipedia

However, here is how it looked like when we went:

Then it was time for some photographs...

And some poses which can easily fit in any bollywood movie...

Haresh in one of those poses:

This one is dedicated to Southern India where i belong !!! Suppper South Indian stunt...

Some more followed:

Now it was time for us to leave for Quebec city.

http://www.quebecregion.com/en

It is one of those very few cities in Canada with a strong history behind. It is the capital of Province of Quebec (Montreal too is a part of the same province). The details of all the battles that were fought on this land can be found at Wikipidia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_City

We went to a tower to get an aerial view of city and its walls (it is the only walled city in Canada). We got a decent view of the city from the top...

We were almost frozen by the time we reached Quebec and hence were not in a position to enjoy its beauty to the fullest. There was not just cold which bothered us, but also the bus which we thought had skipped us and left. There was quite a bit of drama as we were waiting for it at temperatures below -20 degree celsius. We could not see a single fellow passenger leave alone the cuter ones...
But we were relieved totally when we saw one passenger who came to the spot where we were waiting. We had come too early as we were not told the time to return and hence all the ensuing drama - We should not have made so much fun of our guide !!!

Finally the bus arrives after a gruelling half an hour wait and we depart for Montreal...

All in all a lovely first hand experience of the Canadian winter and History...

Sunrise in Montreal !!

2009-12-25T03:05:00.001+08:00

Some clicks from our Montreal office early in the morning... YENJOY !!!

Mount St Bruno - My First Ski !!!

2009-12-17T06:18:00.001+08:00

And the weekend travails continue...

Skiing has never been on my to-do list and hence came across as a really pleasant experience.

Saturday, 12th Dec 09

We tried to reserve our place on friday, but unfortunately there was only french lessons available for saturday. But we decided to give it a try - just in
case we might find somebody who is able to coach us in english.

We start off.. Two changes of metro line, then a bus for forty mins and followed by taxi for about ten mins - We reach Mount St Bruno. The temperature is sub zero. We are informed what we had heard the other day - no coach available in english. So we decided to go around the place and click some snaps. All the while, i have been mentioning "We" - it stands for me and a colleague Prasad.

Now came the decision that taught us something really important.

<-- We decided to walk our back to the bus stop. -->

There are always assumptions behind every decision that you take in life and this one too had some - "We could walk this distance in 15-20 mins if it took
ten mins for the taxi", "It is not as chilly as the thermometer may show", "The frequency of buses would be just like what we have in Montreal" etc.
Unfortunately for us, none of them held true. The weather was more chilly than what was shown, walking in such a weather for an hour (YES, that is not a
typo) is certainly NOT easy, bus frequency may not be as good in remote areas (what a silly assumption we had earlier...).

So, we walked for an hour and waited for 45mins for the bus that would take us back to where we came from - all this in temperatures below freezing
temperature of water.

Finally, the bus arrives - after the long arduous wait - and brings with it enormous amount of relief to our chilled-out souls(YES, the chill had penetrated IN). We could not believe how a bus, that would have been negelected under normal circumstances can bring this much relief.

At that very moment, i remembered something that is taught in all B-Schools - "IT DEPENDS" - Every experience depends on the circumstances and a whole bunch of variables that define the time that we call "present".

Finally, we reach home - tired and exhausted but looking forward to the next day which would give be one of those "firsts" - We always remember the first
experience of all kinds for a long time in our lives and this excitement was in anticipation of the experience that we were to have the next day...

Sunday 13th Dec 09

The D-day arrives and we plan it better this time. Right from clothing to bus timings to taxi timings to lunch. Everything was meticulously listed down and
we left with a feeling that nothing could go wrong.

Things were going exactly as per plan. We took the metro and then the bus and then the taxi and reached just on time at the resort. We were welcomed a 17yr
old Birtish accented kid who was our coach. It was a pleasant surprise as it is first of all difficult find somebody who is fluently speaking in english,
getting a British accented guy was a bonus..

We start our lessons and realy enjoy being on snow. This is something we had only seen in Bollywood movies earlier.

We enjoyed each of those moments we spent skiing (and also those when we fell). Suddenly, we see snow fall and we got to ski in snow fall too.. We could not have asked for more. And just as Paulo Coelho says in 'The Alchemist' - "When you want something, the whole universe conspires to make it happen".

It was a lovey trip and one of those 'firsts' which you would like to keep in your memories for a long long time...

Les Choristes

2009-11-10T12:55:00.001+08:00

And here comes one more for dreamers !!!

Lovely movie on how the battle is never lost. ' It is never too late to start...'
Very inspiring movie to push you back to where your passion is...

Fond De L'Etang (Bottom of the well) is a rehab centre for minors and is full of tough kids. Clement Mathieu (Gerard Jugnot) takes the role of a supervisor in this school which has become a nightmare for the kids due to the actions of its principal.
Clement uses Music to bring order into this disorderly school thereby prvoing a point for himself too as a musician. One of his students ends being a lead of a chorus group after going to a music school.

Clement's "Never say Never" attitude stands up all across the movie and is bound to inspire anybody watching this masterpiece...

Great music, inspiring theme and an admirable film !!!!

DREAM ON !!! Chase your passion !!!

Amelie

2009-11-09T13:03:00.001+08:00

A French classic for dreamers...

Amelie (Audrey Tautou) lives her own world of dreams right from her childhood.. She grows up and works as a waitress at one of the restaurants. She continues the same way until some events happen that change her life forever. These events change her outlook towards life and she decides to help people around her. Some beautiful twists and turns that follow make the movie really lively..

The movie brings out an important theme of how circumstances & people around you can change your attitude altogether. Gets me back to my previous short article on how circumstances can induce unimaginable power in normal beings...
http://athmagyaan.blogspot.com/2009/02/time-is-ripe-when-you-feel-it-is_27.html

A Must watch for dreamers of all kinds!!!

"Plus tard tu comprendras"

2009-10-26T09:27:00.001+08:00

'Plus tard tu comprendras'(French) translates to 'One day you will understand'..

A movie on discrimination on ethnic grounds and substantiates my previous article on racial discrimination - 'Brownie Sizzles ???'
http://athmagyaan.blogspot.com/2009/09/brownie-sizzles.html

A French Movie directed by Amos Gitai. It is an intense film based on the Genocide of jews by Germany during world war II. It is a true story based on autobiography of Jerome Clement.

Rivka (Jeane Moreau)'s jewish parents are forced to abandon all their belongings in Paris to save themselves from getting killed in a concentration camp. They hide somewhere in France for some time but soon their traces are not found anywhere.

Rivka, after having experienced all this, lives a quiet life in Paris. Her son, Victor, tries to investigate the death of his grandparents and tries many times to get details from his mother - Only to be disappointed. Rivka would love talking about everything other than her past. The discussions between Rivka and Victor are really well presented - Victor trying to extract details from his mother and Rivka changing the topic whenever he gets there...

Jeane Moreau has done a splendid job as Rivka with her expressionless reactions and
a real hoarse voice to give the impact of those intense dialgoues..

The only time she speaks about her past is a day before her death when she reveals everything to her grandchildren (Victor's children). It is as if she knew that she would be dying the very next day...

Victor finally suceeds in his attempt at unravelling the past. But, in the process, learns why his mother had been silent all the while.

No frills, intense movie which is more like a documentary rather than a commercial film.

Recommended for intense-movie/Documentary lovers only !!!

My First SkyDive !!!!

2009-10-11T10:36:00.001+08:00

And the weekend travails continue... Jumping from 10,500 feet is no joke and i realised just that this weekend.

Thrilling, breathtaking, exhilarating, adrenaline gushing experience.

The day begins with a 100 dollar bill to the taxi to reach the venue - all just because of some careless useless planning by me. Just when i think that this is going to be a bad day, the sun gods appear from nowhere and change the mood altogether. The rains in the past few days could have spoilt everything. So, the platform was being set for a perfect beginning to skydiving.

I reach the venue on time and am told to fill up a form that is only two pages long but is full disclaimers. Felt no point in reading it as i had to sign in any case if i had to take the jump. Now it was clear, whatever happens - plane crash, parachute not opened, heart attack, or any other remotely related medical illness - I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MYSELF!!! That makes it easy... Well, not really.

Now that the form is signed (with initials at every second line), i am introduced my guide Donald who is going to be taking care of my life for the next twenty mins or so. I think i should be able to find his name somewhere in my Kundali (horoscope) as he has every possible chance of changing my future altogether. Well, he is twenty years into the job and the probability of him screwing this up was very remote. That makes me comfortable.

The moment arrives.. I am all dressed up for the occasion and am told to get into the flight that would take us to 10,500 feet and come back with no-one in it (except the pilot of course)

We start the ascend and somewhere around 4000 feet i try to re-confirm my postures with Donald and he ignores it saying that we would have a briefing just before we get out..

We ascend some more - the maple trees look beautiful with colours spilled over them. The view gets hazier and you are hardly able to see anything now. Just as i realise that, Donald tightens my hook with his hook and starts giving me instructions.

Fold your hands across your chest when you leave the plane and open them when i tap twice. Just before we open the parachute, ill tap again and you have to fold your hands again.
And just as i try to visualise the scenarios, he tells me to kneel down at the gate. We are the first to go !!!! No time to fear !! Only later did i realise that this is actually a great strategy to minimise fear - Give very little time to think.

Ten seconds from then, we are at the gate and i am facing down from 10,500 feet. This moment defines the whole experience.. There is no greater moment than this...

You are standing at the gate of an aircraft at 10,500 feet - about to take a free fall that is going to last for a minute. You would be going down at 200KM PH during this time.. That sums up the entire experience.

Just as i look down and try to convince myself that i can do it, Donald tells me to pose for a photo. I feel like telling him, "Boss, this probably is not the best moment to pose for a photograph.." He turns my neck around so that i can give the cameraman (Andrew) a reason for him being there with me all through the jump.

Donald gives a call.. JUMP!!! I get the courage from somewhere and i jump (of course with a push from Donald)... The first 5 seconds make you numb as you are somersaulting at 200KMPH.. Just as you stabilise, you realise that this is going to be an enjoyable ride with the air gushing in at your face real fast at single digit temperatures...

We pose for some photos (the camera man follows you) and now it is time for opening the parachute. Donald signals the cameraman and suddenly you feel a jerk at all the places where the rope was tied on to you.

I insist on taking control of the parachute. Donald agrees as we were still quite long from landing. Controlling the parachute is a great feeling in itself. You feel as if you are flying and you take turns and increase speed etc..

One more minute passes by and Donald realises that he needs to get back controls now if we are to land safely. I agree instantly and Donald makes sure we reach safely...

This experience is something which may not have its impact with words.. You really need to experience it to feel it.. Dont miss it if you do have an opportunity !!!

Complete video at http://www.parachutemontreal.ca/en/Videos/Voir-Mon-Saut.aspx
(Search for 'Athmanathan Ramamirdam')

Mont Tremblant accomplished !!!

2009-10-08T10:24:00.001+08:00

My tradition of weekend trips continues !!! It was Mont Tremblant's turn this weekend. Mont Tremblant is a picnic spot/Mini trek about 120 miles from Montreal. This place is especially beautiful during fall due to the colour of Maple trees (yes, it is the same tree's leaves that are present on Canada's flag)

It has this cable car ride that takes you to the top.. the other alternative is to climb the whole thing up.. Being very charged up, we decide to climb.. It has been a long time since i have done some trekking and i could realise that when i ran out of steam half way through !!! (My legs are still aching as i write this piece - it has been three full days since the trek)

Back to maple leaves, they are pretty famous here in this part of the world and people from far off come to this place just to see them.

Nothing else there other than that.. of course, there are some rides which you can enjoy.. But, we were content with the trek and were back just on time for our trip back to Montreal.

No need to mention, we were again travelling by 'Wonder Travels'.. !!!

Let me see what i can plan for the coming weekend !!!

One thousand islands-Toronto-Niagara (Part II)

2009-10-08T09:55:00.001+08:00

It was Toronto where we were supposed to stay for the night. It was quite some time since i saw crowded streets and traffic jams and Toronto made me recollect just that. Very metropolitan and loads of people. It was a Saturday and our timing couldn't have been better to see people..
The only place we visited was the CN Tower (http://www.cntower.ca/) - Supposedly the world's tallest tower when it was built. The view from the top is awesome...

Went to our comfortable rooms at Hilton to for the night and were awaiting the next day when we would be at Niagara..
Early in the morning, we start towards Niagara - about an hour from Toronto. And, finally we reached. One more tower at Niagara - this one is called the Skylon tower (on the Canada side) - which gives a breathtaking view of Niagara. I have heard that Niagara looks better from the Canadian side and that was probably true because the view just extraordinary..

Now, it was the turn to take "Maid of the mist" to reach the base of the falls.. We are given a thin raincoat so as to save ourselves from the mist that is created by this gigantic waterfall..

Finally, the last stop of the trip was Marineland - an aquatic museum which has trained whales, dolphins etc. It also has an underwater view which is quite good for a first timer like me..

It was time to head back to Montreal after a hectic but lovely two day trip..

More photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12017496@N04

Mont Tremblant follows in the next blog..

One thousand islands-Toronto-Niagara (Part I)

2009-09-29T12:47:00.001+08:00

Just returned from a two day trip to one thousand islands, toronto and Niagara falls... As you might have guessed by now, Niagara was easily the best among the three.

Wonder travels
(http://www.wondertravel.net/) is like the official travel company for our organisation - i have not yet heard of anybody who has travelled by something else.
So, following company tradition, we (me and a colleague) went to 'wonder' (Travels) to show us some wonders in Canada..

One thousand islands is nothing but a bunch of tiny islands put together. Nothing so great about it - You may compare it with any decently sized lake anywhere in the world...
Of course, honeymooners may have a drastically different view on this place.

The only thing good about this part of the trip is that we don't have to deviate much from our path to cover this. It is on the way from Montreal to Toronto and hence is as good as any other brief stopover.

Well, it is well past 1 AM and i need to catch up with some sleep if i have to report at work tomorrow..

TO BE CONTINUED in Part II.

Ana and Otto...

2009-09-24T10:59:00.001+08:00

Otto is a dreamer and falls in love with Ana at first sight.. The series of events which follow make you glued to your seat until completion of the movie.

You will meet with surprises at every key moment of the movie and most of them are really pleasant. Otto's father and Ana's mother end up being in a realtionship thereby allowing the kids to spend more time together.

Otto leaves his mother for Ana but later tries to commit suicide after the sudden death of his mother. Otto's guilt gets into you as you watch him suffer in guilt assuming himself responsible for his mother's death.

He recovers after a long time - only to realise that Ana is no longer with him. Becomes a pilot just beacause of the fact that he was named after a pilot (there is a story there too). Some beautiful co-incidences follow towards the end of the movie and make it a worthwhile watch...

Though at times you may feel irritated with repetitive scenes but you would appreciate all of it once you reach the climax. It is as if you join the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle - You dont appreciate it until you are finished...

-- A French classic
-- Unimaginable co-incidences
-- A lovely & lively story on childhood love

Dont miss it if you get a chance to watch it !!!
(Of course with Subtitles!!!)

By the way, if you have not realised it as yet - Both names are palindromes and that too is one of the co-incidences.

Directed by: Ernst Gossner
Original Language: French

The Brownie Sizzles ???

2009-09-18T05:11:00.001+08:00

If you are expecting an ice cream recipe, you would be terribly disappointed !!
But you would not be very unhappy if you appreciate what is called the "Sizzling Brownie"...

It all starts with an era when there were only two colours - Black and White. Time passed by and some more time passed by. A new colour emerged - Brown. This could not relate to any of the categories and hence created a niche of its own. As a result of this, a new culture came to the surface - 'The Brown Culture'.

Passengers are being screened at the Munich Airport and suddenly one of them is taken to a corner for further questioning. Some more passengers pass by and one more is sidelined. Some more passengers pass by and again somebody is sidelined. There is one common factor among all these sidelined characters - their skin colour- 'Brown'

A "Brownie" goes to an Indian restaurant in one of the coolest(Cool, either ways!!) cities in Canada. There are some empty seats upstairs, so he wants to be seated upstairs. He is politely refused as it is booked for a private party. Having no other option, he sits on the ground floor in one of the seats where he is not so comfortable but somehow adjusts. A "Ice cream" colored guy enters the scene, is granted a seat upstairs. "Brownie" thinks he might be part of the private party. One more goes upstairs.. and some more pass by. There is no private party...

Well, these are some isolated events and may not imply anything serious in a larger context. However, when an individual goes through even one of these, he/she feels terribly upset for being discriminated for no reason. Color does matter in some cases...

We live in a world where each culture has severe dependency on other cultures for its trade,economy and so on.. We talk a lot about globalisation and about a flat world. There are loads and loads of articles on interdependency between economies and globalisation etc - Are they meant only for theory??? We need to answer some questions...

Each one of us, at some or the other time in our lives, is faced with a situation where we have an interface with cultures which are drastically different than ours..

These are actually very enriching experiences which make you learn some really important things in life. Some of these experiences are really pleasant like the one where
- You keep nodding for a "Yes" at the coffee shop and the other guy takes it as "No".. And you keep nodding and the guy in front keeps waiting for you to leave. And both keep wondering what went wrong !!!

And...

There are some unpleasant ones like the ones mentioned above.

All they do to you is expand your level of thinking to an altogether different sphere. A sphere where everything is determined by merit and talent an individual possesses... And then all of a sudden, you feel proud of being part of this mix of cultures.

Even now, as i type this article, and i look at the keyboard, i am using a keyboard with black coloured keys with white imprints. It cannot be complete without either.

Now back to our "Sizzling brownie"...

A sizzling brownie contains 'white' ice cream, 'almost black' chocolate, a hot pan and is called a Brownie.. And it can never sizzle without even one of the components..

Today's world is very much like the sizzling brownie and none of the cultures can exist without the other.

Is the Brownie sizzling????

It is for each one of us to answer !!!

Food for thought:
“No culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive.” - Mahatma Gandhi

NOTE: "Brownie" has been used interchangeably between the 'Brown Culture' and the 'Globalised world' - "Brown culture" cannot exist without its diversity and neither can this 'globalised world' exist without its mix of cultures...

Whale watching in the Arctic...

2009-08-26T22:18:00.001+08:00

Been a long time since i wrote.. I am back and hopefully for a continuous stretch of writing..

My first blog since my visit to Montreal..

Lovely, Vibrant City... Montreal !!! There would be detailed listing on the culture of Montreal once i figure out the nitty gritties of this wonderful city.

This one is dedicated to the whales in arctic ocean near the East coast of Canada..

Though I could not get a complete glimpse of the 'Bowhead whale',i could still get a clear view of Belugas (baby whales).. The bowhead whale made its presence felt once when its huge fin splashed on the surface of the Ocean.. We were not allowed to get close it as a team of observers (probably Discovery or Nat Geo) were following it in smaller boats.

The journey begins at a Chinki travel company near Place d' Armes metro station, Montreal. Four hour drive and we reach 'Riviere du loup', the base station for our Voyage into the arctic ocean.

In my usual ignorance, i forget to take warm clothes with me. Of course, i realised it - When we were into 3 degree celsius arctic waters. The only savior was my hand kerchief which found its best use.

We were nearing the spot where whales are usually spotted.. Everybody on their guard.. No sighting as yet. All we got to see was a group of seals.. :-) The whales were still eluding us.

And then suddenly to 2 O' Clock (that is the nomenclature used by our captain - the front end of the boat is twelve O' Clock), we get to see 'Belugas' or Mini whales. Engines are switched off.. The belugas come towards the boat fearlessly and we are told they can be as playful as the dolphins.. Paisa Vasool.. :-)

The photos have not come out as great and hence the need for a better camera next time... Have to do some research..

Then comes the grand finale.. We were on our way back and then suddenly, the huge Bowhead whale splashed its fin at a distance. Soon, the observing teams begin chasing it and it vanishes into the vast arctic..

In any sighting of this sort, luck plays a very important role.. Might be back again to try my luck for a better view of the larger whale next summer..

Until then, back to business Ooops work !!!

Time is ripe when YOU feel IT IS...

2009-02-28T15:56:00.002+08:00

It is one of those rare friday nights when i am watching a movie. I could not resist myself from writing this piece after watching the Tamil Movie 'Naayakan'. For those who are not aware of it, it is a masterpiece by Mani Rathnam (was made way back in 1987 and featured in the list of 'All time Top 100 movies' in Time Magazine. ) and stars Kamal Haasan.

A ten year old boy loses his father to a police encounter in front of his eyes, attempts to kill the policeman and flees to Mumbai. Not knowing where to go, he lands in Dharavi just like the thousands who end up @ Dharavi everyday even today. What follows this is a host of intense events like 'Baba' (almost like a father to Kamal in the film) being killed in the poilice station or the one where he meets a 10 Std girl in a brothel who asks him to leave her early so that she could study. These extreme circumstances redefine 'Velu Nayakan' aka Kamal in the film.

B.
I was returning from one of my regular weekend trips to Pune. It was about 15 mins since I had left Swargate (bus terminal in Pune) and we were going past a road which is one of the most busiest roads in Pune. Calamity strikes in the form of a puncture. With great difficulty, driver gets the bus to left side of the road, which was already shortened due to the ever-continuing, eternal road repairs.

I was just casually observing the conductor when i rediscovered something that has always been there in front of us. There was a problem (that was not my discovery..).

Problem : The only replacement tyre is on top of the bus and has to be taken down without disrupting traffic.

Solution 1: Get it down with the help of a rope or some other instrument.

Solution 2: Just allow it to fall freely under gravitational force (to test Newton's Laws) and then replace the punctured tyre.

Solution 1 was not feasible in the absence of a rope or anything that closely resembles the features of a rope. Realising this, the conductor comes to the center of the road and manouvers the traffic with such ease as if he has been doing that all throughout his life. Would have given a complex to almost every traffic policeman. The tyre is changed and now, it is business as usual..

Now comes the real message -

Be it Velu Nayakan in 'Nayakan' or the conductor of Asiad bus, what brings them on the same platform is the exposure to circumstances which pull out tremendous power from within them. This, in normal course of life, would have been very difficult to happen.

The point that i have been pondering over is "why do we have to wait for these events to change the course of our life???".

Why don't we chase our dreams with the same energy and power that we would have experienced in circumstances like the ones mentioned above or in other numerous other similar events.

Time is ripe when you feel it is...

So, start 'feeling' and just experience the change in perspectives..

The New Age 'Shop Floor'...

2009-01-24T01:59:00.001+08:00

One of the most dreaded places on earth is a place called 'Shop Floor'. Mechanical engineers would agree in totality. During my transition from an engineering setup to an IT company and then to telecom has made me think "Are we witnessing the emergence of a new shop floor???"

Well, typically a shop floor would be defined as:

Workers + Machines + Supervisors = Production

Over the years, the young Indian graduating out of any school has seen a drastic change in this equation. It has now become:

(Workers=Machines) + Bosses/Supervisors = Deliverables

At the core level, there has not been any significant change. It is still the same old story. Reach office at nine (Or whatever flexible time you feel like coming). Do the same work you did yesterday (or day before or the day before day before..) and leave office once you are done. There have certainly been some minor changes here and there:

Shifts have been replaced by 'Flexi timings'.. Though you still work nine hours a day.
'Machines' are more jazzed up. They are sleek and dont occupy as much space. No oiling required but frequent restarts required (thanks to 'Windows').. But, there is one thing that has not changed - They are still black and don't listen to what you say...
The worker is replaced by a smart (i am not sure if that is the right word) B-School grad who earns much better than the worker by doing nothing.
No more overtime. Thats because you dont even contribute for what you are paid for... is contribution inversely proportional to salary drawn or is it vice versa?? or is it a straight line passing through the origin where contribution is on the X-Axis and compensation is on Y-Axis. (Now, this is called an engineer's language..)

The discussion would go on and on and on... But, the point is :

If you are one of those who look forward to Mondays (Provided that Monday is not a weekly off) then you are certainly NOT working on the 'Shop Floor'.. This is the question each one of us needs to ask ourselves - "Are we working on the 'Shop Floor'???"

Is this new emerging 'Shop floor' going to be as dreaded as the older one?? Only time can answer...

NOTE: There is no intention to spoil the beauty of a manufacturing setup, it is just being used as a metaphor...

No GAME @ FAME !!!!

2009-01-16T03:40:00.002+08:00

I am just back from the preview show of 'Chandni Chowk to China' @ Fame, Ghatkopar. Here is what i have gone through in the last three hours or so;

1. Book a ticket for Rs 190 (Was it too costly for this movie???) for the preview show.
2. I take my seat, totally unaware of the emotional turmoil that is to follow.
3. There are these employees (or waiters) of Fame who keep roaming around with sandwiches and pop corns. It gives you a feel of being at Juhu chowpatty or at any of the busiest markets in the city. Not too sure if that is the 'experience' people pay for at Fame (or any other multiplex). All those who have passed out from a B-School would be able to link to the 'Starbucks' case study when you hear this.
4. The movie begins and i enjoy ONLY those RARE moments of Akshay Kumar's charisma and glimpses of Deepika in the movie. Now comes a twist in the story.
5. I go to get a hot coffee for myself. Nobody at the coffee shop. i ask the corn shop employee sitting next about the whereabouts of the coffee fellow. He takes my order and tells me coffee would be delivered at my seat.
6. Coffee arrives. I pay Rs 100 and the waiter tells me he would come back with the change.
7. The wait for the waiter continues till the end of the movie.
8. I go to the coffee shop after the movie. Ask for the balance. I am told i gave him a Rs 50 note. I am not sure if this is an intentional tactic or not.. Whatever it may be, it certainly is not a great thing to do to your customers. It is not about the money but about how an already disastrous experience is being stretched even more.

Is this what we pay for @ Multiplexes?? I dont think so...

The customer is certainly NOT the king always and neither is Akshay Kumar... (Remember Singggh is kinggg!!!)

I am not going to talk anymore about the movie.. Watch it to find out.

From Masakalli to Corporate Strategy

2009-01-09T13:53:00.001+08:00

The teaser of Delhi 6 is lovely. Saw it on one of the television channels. Probably rehman is the only music director in India who dares to experiment. This one, i must say, is starkingly different.

The song Masakalli, which features in the teaser, is a treasure to listen. Also, the visualisation of the song by Rakeyyysh Omprakashhh Mehra (Still dont know if i got the name right) is too good. I am not sure how the movie (and other songs) are going to turn out to be. But, this one certainly has struck the chords with the audience.

All these are a result of Bollywood directors/music composers starting to innovate in all aspects of film making.

Well, that reminds me of the article by CK Prahlad in Economic times today. He talks about how innovation would drive growth in emerging economies and that dominant logic (Implicit logic followed by conventional thinkers) is on its way out. He talks about how innovation would flow from emerging economies to developed nations.

There are some more good articles from so called Strategy Gurus. There is a lot of Strategic gyaan (or Gas as you may call) in the edition. Dedicated to those who dwell on strategy..

Have a read...

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articlelist/121385957.cms

It happens only with females !!!

2009-01-08T03:23:00.001+08:00

Before your mind starts wondering if this one is a blog on human anatomy, let me clear the air. This certainly is not one of those, but you may certainly classify it under human psychology.

One question has haunted me for a long time. And it surfaced again today during one of the discussions with a female colleague at work...
Have you ever wondered why females have so many quarrels/ego clashes while their better halves (Read 'Men') have hardly any.. (Probably, women may not agree to the fact of men being 'Better halves').

Dictionary.com defines EGO as follows:
–noun, plural e⋅gos.

1.	the “I” or self of any person; a person as thinking, feeling, and willing, and distinguishing itself from the selves of others and from objects of its thought.

It also states an example to prove the case under discussion:
"Her ego becomes more unbearable each day. "Looks like the dictionary guys have enough empirical evidence to have 'Her' rather than 'His' in this example.

But then, what differentiates the misunderstandings amongst men and those amongst women are the following facts (I would like to call them facts rather than myths..)

1. Women never forget. Men never remember. That makes the problem much more simpler. Women don't forget even the tiniest of fights and carry them all throughout their lives.
2. Women are insecure; they are always on the lookout for security. Though women may not agree to this fact but i certainly feel that there is always an underlying sense of insecurity in every woman.
3. When a woman passes by, men look at her top to bottom to analyse her whereas females scan through every inch of her.. All this just to find out if the lady in front is better looking than her or has better accessories. Remember "Hiii... Lovely earrings... Where did u get them from" or "hey.. your sandals are a good match to your dress" and others alike...

But when i try to convince myself with a psychological and a scientific explanation to the question, i am not too comfortable with these arguments stated above...

Just as we say, most of the things in life are not Black n white but rather in gray, this one too may be one of them..

To put it in other words -> You can't answer something -> Blame it on gray.

All the views/facts mentioned above are my interpretations based on whatever little interaction i have had with the 'Other' sex. Feel free to comment if you don't agree with any of those so called 'facts'. By the way, you can even comment otherwise.

The Afghan girl

2009-01-06T12:04:00.001+08:00

Came across this masterpiece about life in afghanistan. It talks about how afghanistan has faced invasions over the past 25 years which have caused millions to become refugees in their own homeland..

"It is the ongoing tragedy of Afghanistan. Invasion. Resistance. Invasion. Will it ever end? "

The article tries to answer this question...

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2002/04/afghan-girl/index-text/1

'Babus' Zindabad - A Live Story (Part II)

2009-01-03T22:57:00.001+08:00

I am back after being foot-balled from one 'Babu' to another. All these visits seem so normal these days. Probably, i am getting used to all this. But getting used to this is like accepting defeat at the hands of these corrupt 'Babus'.

But then, i start thinking about a solution and i go blank. There must be something that can be done to improve the situation and provide relief to the class of people called 'entrepreneurs'. There is an urgent need for a change in attitude amongst these 'Babus'. A renewed sense of accountability and responsibility is what is required. That doesnt seem to be coming.

Looks like these 'Babus' draw heavy inspiration from the sensational song 'Babuji zara dheere chalo' featuring Yana gupta.

I would love to see that day when a budding entrepreneur doesn't even think of regulatory hassles while thinking of any business plan. I am hopeful it would come. The earlier the better..

BABUJI ZARA JALDI CHALO !!!

'Babus' Zindabad - A live story (Part I)

2009-01-03T16:52:00.001+08:00

Before you start thinking whether i am referring to Telegu surname 'Babu' or anything else which sounds similar, let me clear the air..

I am sitting at one of the government offices as i am writing this piece (Luckily had the laptop with me)... One of those endless waits at government offices for getting a licence for a commercial establishment. These long 'lunch breaks' (or chai breaks) and so called 'field visits' make me wonder when is it that we are going to come out of this illusion.

These 'Babus' (As they are fondly called.. Though not often fond of ordinary citizens) live in their own world of isolation. Just like there are exceptions everywhere, here too there are a few (actually quite a few). They are people called 'Agents' who have exclusive access to the lives of these almost alien individuals working for the people.

Looks like the lunch break is over.. Ill complete this one in the Chai break. (I am dead sure i am going to wait till then)

The fort Called 'PEB' (Part II)

2009-01-01T14:18:00.001+08:00

So, five of us (Amol, Sachin, Pravin, Milind and Me) start the trek towards PEB.. Pravin, the researcher, had brought some printouts which were the only source of information for us. None of us had been to the place before and that made it all the more interesting.. (He is the one busy looking at printouts even while he was photographed)

With directions from Pravin's printouts we embark on a journey that proved to be one of the best treks we have ever had.. Here is how it looked when we started:

Here are some more of them on the way:

There is an advantage of lagging behind in treks, you get captured in a lot of photographs. Going by this logic, Milind benefitted the most just like in this one:

There are some beautiful rock patches on the way to top. Though they are not all that risky, they are certainly a delight for trekkers. Here is an example: (And milind gets captured again...)

Me and Pravin at one of the climbs..

After about three and a half hours of intense trekking we reach the top just to be surrounded with images like this one:

There is a temple of Lord Shiva and also a math (Read in Hindi/Marathi) of Swami Samarth at the top.

We then finished our breakfast at what you might term as lightning speed and proceeded towards our final frontier. The fort is in shambles and you have to explore quite a bit to reach the topmost point (though there might be nothing worth seeing available there). Amol at the stairs leading to the final climb.

After roaming around for some time at the top, it was time for the descent. We were certainly exhausted after all the incidents in the past 12 hours or so. But we decided to get back immediately. The rock patches which seemed simple while climbing up were seeming to be really risky ones. But then, that is the fun of trekking.

Helping each other maneuver one of those 'risky' rock patches on the way down:

At last, we are through... and what a trek it was. A wonderful one which was enjoyed by each one of us thoroughly.. Though not advisable for beginners. Not because of the risky nature of the trek, but because of the exertion involved.

The fort called 'PEB' (Part I)

2008-12-31T17:46:00.002+08:00

"Peb"bing can be a lovely break from the usual and monotonous 'Pubbing'... :-)

Just back from an arduous trek to a fort called 'Peb' after a four year gap in trekking. After having conquered forts like Harishchandragad, rajgad, Jivdhan Naneghat, Dhak, Duke's Nose, Torna and others, this one was a refreshingly new trek altogether.

One thing that gets reinforced after every trek is that you can never ever beat nature in its own game. Hats off to Shivaji maharaj for going this far to build these lovely forts across Maharashtra. This atleast gives us a reason to fight. To face extreme conditions and come out even stronger.

This is one of those beauties built by Shivaji Maharaj. He used the caves a silos for the purpose of storage of grains. Atleast that is what we hear from people around and those who have visited before.

I was in pune on one of those regular weekend trips catching up with friends. Had gone to meet some of my childhood friends (Though not sure if i am still out of that stage in life). Thats when Amol told me that he was going for a trek with some of his friends. As it is, i was leaving for mumbai the next day (Sunday), so thought i would do this trek on the way and then come back to 'Amchi Mumbai'. Not knowing what lay ahead for me, i accepted...

So, we reached Pune station at 11 PM hoping to catch the passenger and reach nerul (Base for the trek) early in the morning on Sunday (28/12/08). What was waiting for us at the Pune railway station was a long queue for tickets with some intermediate fights adding spice to the never ending wait for a ticket.

Then we called upon Amol's 'TO BE SASURJI' to do the honours. He is an employee with the Indian Railways. Five mins more and we have a ticket in hand. We boarded the train that was supposed to halt at Nerul (Thats where the trek begins) and the same was confirmed by the TT.

Three hours of sleep and we reach Nerul - Only to find that the train doesnt stop there... So we did what logical souls would call 'common sensical' -> Get down at the next station. So, we get down at Badlapur. The clock was showing 3:30 AM. One more surprise - The next train to Nerul is at 5:30 AM. Two hours of chatting and Garma Garam chais help us pass this time.

And here it comes.. The first train in the morning towards Karjat - A chilly morning that promised a day full of activity and fun. Just before we reached Nerul, there is a halt. The signal is red. We get down from the train to explore the surroundings enroute to nerul. Luckily for us, Nerul was not that far..

We reach Nerul at about six in the morning. Our initial plan was to reach the base of 'Peb Killa' around 5-5:30 AM. The base is still about 3 kms away.

The climb to the top, which was equally exciting, is coming soon in Part II...

‘P’ for Professionalism; ‘P’ for Politics

2008-12-31T17:15:00.002+08:00

Just like there are 4Ps for marketing (Product, place, price and promotion), these are 2Ps which prescribe the success formula for any organization.

I often think why do some organizations succeed while others don’t and what is it that differentiates these types of organizations.
And then I realize that there is a stark similarity amongst the successful ones. These organizations follow a culture of ‘Professionalism’ to the core. They don’t do it for the sake of doing it…

Then comes the next question.

Why doesn’t every organization aspire to be a truly professional organization??

It is not all that easy for that idea to percolate within each and every employee. The vision of the top management should drive the employees into ethical and professional practices at work which would take them longer in the long run. There is always dilution of information as it passes up and down the hierarchy and horizontally across departments. The extent of this dilution decides the amount of effort to be put in to align everything to a common goal.

Now, you might be wondering what I mean by ‘politics’ in this case. Politics here refers to everything from regionalism to bias based on religion to favoring a specific employee irrespective of his/her performance. These are small things, but make a huge difference when you look at it from an organization’s perspective.

This makes me remember a quote by Hillary Clinton “The challenge is to practice politics as the art of making what appears to be impossible, possible.”

It is upto each individual to decide which ‘P’ he/she wants to take. And if the vision of the top management is strong enough, it ensures that every one who is a part of the organization is aligned with the common vision. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen in 99% of the cases.

All said, a work environment that is driven by professionalism is the best motivator for employees and makes them give their best performance every time.

It certainly is a challenge, but not all that difficult to achieve; if all employees share the same vision for the organization and have a sense of responsibility and accountability.

Hillary Clinton Quote Reference: http://www.woopidoo.com/business_quotes/company-quotes.htm; All other thoughts are original.

Fusion is in.....

2007-11-25T13:04:00.001+08:00

Fusion is the in-thing these days... Music too is not averse from it..
The Grand finale at November Fest organised by Hindu at Music Academy was just that. Four Great artists came together and the result was a seamless fusion of classical and western forms of music. All those present were indeed fortunate ones; for this was a concert which could not be missed..

Trilok Gurtu, the master of percussion and vocals.
Vikku Vinayakam, The first Indian Musician to get a Grammy Award, a great Ghatam player.
Prasanna, wonderful guitarist.
Selva Ganesh, master of kanjira.
And when all these get together, what you get is an extraordinary mix of Indian classical music and western music.

This November fest was one of the best musicals i have ever attended...

Would remember it forever.

Ghazal Bandhi - Hariharan and Mandolin Shrinivas

2007-11-16T14:41:00.001+08:00

A very special jugalbandi called 'Ghazal Bandhi' which brought two great artists together - Hariharan and Mandolin Shrinivas. It was one of the concerts of the November Fest organised by Hindu.

Just a brief background of the artists:

Mandolin Shrinivas has a vast experience in jugalbandhi and has established extraordinary supremacy over the instrument, mandolin. Over the years he has adapted the instrument to carnatic music and leaves listeners awestruck at every performance. And this time too, he did just that....

Hariharan needs no intro... Here are some facts we dint know abt him.. He was trained in carnatic music by his mother. He had an early passion for ghazals and hence perfecting urdu diction was really important. He mastered it and then forayed into hindi cinema with music director Jaidev in the film 'Gaman' which resulted in the creation of a gem called 'Ajeeb Saane'. There has been no looking back since then.. Today, he is one of the most sought after artists for stage performances across the world.

The show began with a lovely ghazal 'Dil pareshaan hai raat bhaari hai'. Here goes its lyrics:
'Dil pareshaan hai raat bhaari hai'
'Zindagi hai ki phir bhi pyaari hai'
'Dil dhadakne ka aitbar nahi'
'Warna Awaaz to tumhari hai'

Wah Wah..

The show was just getting better with each Ghazal.. Then it was the turn of a Tyagaraja composition which was very popular amongst the masses 'Tulasidara...'

Time for a Break... (Coffee was provided free of cost at the venue as part of a marketing gimmick by a coffee powder company)

To be continued in the next blog... (as soon as I get time)

Athma's Disclaimer: Opinions and views are personal.

Muhurath Day

2007-11-15T02:05:00.001+08:00

'Aakhir Naariyal phodne ka din aa hi gaya'.... (For those who dont know Hindi, it means that today is an auspicious day)
After all, today marks the beginning of my blogging career.

Let us see how it goes...

Right To Information Act

2007-11-15T01:28:00.001+08:00

Right to information act commonly known as RTI was passed two years ago. How many of us know of this??? And even if we know, do we know how powerful this act is? I got to know about this some days ago, when i did some data collection on this topic. This was not accidental. It was for a documentary(Short film) on RTI, which i made along with a friend of mine called Suraj. This documentary was to be presented at IIT Bombay SJMSOM's B-School event Avenues '07.
It was a novel concept of having a short film for the promotion of RTI. Kudos to the organisers, Creative Commons, for organising the same.

You may find the newspaper article on the same at:
http://www.mid-day.com/news/city/2007/october/166168.htm

Also, you can view our documentary at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5rBRsECGZc
After working on this documentary, i have realised the power this act has. It can transform the system if we make judicial use of it. We just need to be more aware of the rights we have so that we can atleast start thinking of exercising them. Let me tell you, if each one of us decides to use this act atleast once in our lifetime, we can make a huge difference!!!

More Information on RTI can be found out at :
http://rti.gov.in/