Anna-mania: Keep your head or risk losing it

This is a message I wish to give to my near and dear ones and also to those who are willing to listen to me with an open mind. As time passes, life teaches us a lot of lessons. How well we learn those lessons determine how well and, in some cases, if we live.

Today, I see this drama unfolding on National Television and I can't help shaking my head and smiling.

We Indians, by nature, are extremely emotional. We have this inexplicable need to make gods out of people we like. We NEED to worship something. Every Indian will understand what I am talking about. There are countless examples. I've seen countless perfectly sane and rational people lose all their logic and rationalism when the topic comes to their "God".

Now, the latest sensation this country has got is Anna Hazare. Almost everyone is running high on Anna-mania, rushing to become another martyr for this new "Father of the Nation". Granted, he's a good guy, or maybe, a great guy, but he's still a man. Don't deify him just yet.

As it is said, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Anna Hazare is quite close to achieving absolute power in this nation of emotional fools. But he should be aware that this nation pulls down heroes just as quickly as it makes them, ruled as it is, by the heart.

So, my suggestion is, before you take out your "Support Anna" flags and march down the streets tommorrow, sit down and think with your head. Think about what is going on. The common man is just a pawn in this high-stakes game of politics. And the rule of the game is, pawns are dispensable.

One thing is certain, whatever you do, the world will keep moving on.The stars will continue shining, rivers will keep flowing. All that will change is the life of you and your near and dear ones. So do what is best for you and ones who should truly matter to you, coz none of your gods will do that for you.

A proverb comes to my mind, "Don't poke your nose where it does not belong or you might end up losing it."

And I'm sure, things much more precious and valuable than a nose will be at risk in tommorrow's political theatre.

Invictus ..

Once in a while, you come across something that inspires you, something that changes your life. 'Invictus' is one such poem. Written by William Ernest Henley in 1875, it has been a source of inspiration for people like Nelson Mandela. It is famously said to be "the poem that inspired a nation".

Here it is, for your reading pleasure.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Journeys

When I was a child, my one and only obsession was to be a pilot. I don't remember why, but I'm sure it must have had something to do with planes. I had a similar obsession with trains (though I never wanted to be a motorman. Screw dignity of labor and all that). To my young mind, they were the magic carpets which could take me to wondrous places, places beyond my dreams.

At that time, the most wonderful place I knew was my native place, God's Own Country, Kerala. Every summer, my family would go there. Those seven days would be the most fun-filled days of my life. To tell you the truth, the best part of my vacation was always the train journey. Not only was it a novel experience, the fact that I would be having loads of fun for the next few days was a thing to celebrate in itself.

This is the reason I don't believe in enjoying rewards without efforts. The efforts make the reward sweeter. The journey makes the destination meaningful. My friends often ask me, why bother with treks, hikes and the like when fun can be had without sweating it out. Even nature trips are possible without wearing out your bones. Why cram yourself in crowded buses or trains and trudge along wild, lonely and dangerous ways?

The joy of going off the beaten path can be experienced only by one bitten by Wanderlust.

My deepest desire is to be a Journeyman, a Wanderer with no aim except to roam this wondrous world and no worries except finding food, water and shelter for today and a new adventure for tomorrow.

If there is a God, may he grant this wish of mine ...

Action Campus Trekking Shoes

As I had mentioned earlier, I'd bought these shoes recently and was looking forward to having a field test. Well, the test is over and I'm happy to say that they passed with flying colors.

I took some guys to Naneghat recently. The path to Naneghat is pretty rough and uneven but these shoes handled them without any problem. On the actual trek, they worked amazingly well on all surfaces, be it loose soil, gravel, scree or wet rocks.

We even went off the proper path (accidently) and climbed via a diversion which was a rocky climb with water flowing over the rocks. The rocks here had moss growing on them as this section was not a part of the path. This could have complicated things slightly but the shoes handled everything beautifully. They are even water-resistant to a limited extent.

All in all, an excellent buy for just Rs. 750. Just love them. :-)

If you are going to buy trekking shoes, definitely check them out.

Preparing for a trek

Since my previous blog was about trekking, I thought I'd write something about how to prepare for a trek. Please note that all these tips apply as a general rule for 1 day treks in the Sahyadris. If your trek is a 6-7 day trek in some snow clad range, some or many of these tips might be irrelevant.

As always, use your own discretion.

Whenever you plan a trek to some location, keep a few things in mind.

1} Always google the place you are planning to go. Generally, someone must have gone there before and put some info online.

Better still, see if someone you know has visited the place before.

2} Plan your schedule very carefully. You don't want to get stranded overnight without any preparation.

As a general rule of thumb, plan to start your return journey by 5 or latest 6 in the evening.

3} If you're going trekking in the monsoons or you're planning a dip in a lake or a waterfall, include a cap and\or a windcheater as well as spare clothes.

Be careful about the depth.

4} Check the items you are planning to carry. A few items that are must-haves on any trek are a 1 or 2 ltr bottle of drinking water, a towel, a plastic bag to put your watch and mobile.

Two items which are generally in-demand on almost every trek are Odomos (for those pesky mosquitoes) and Glucon-D\Electral Powder (provides a much-needed boost when you're burned out).

And carry a larger tiffin than what you eat everyday as you tend to work up a huge appetite after a trek.

5} The last and the most important thing that you should take care of for a trek are Shoes. I know you must be shaking your head in disbelief and amusement but think about it. Your feet are going to be under huge amounts of strain. Good footwear will go a long way in making you comfortable and helping you enjoy your trek.

Here are a few choices you might want to check out (Not in any order of preference. Judge for yourself.)

 1]The most commonly preferred option for 1 day treks are the Kito style sandals you can see in the pic below.

They give good grip on almost all surfaces, even wet rocks. (Performance varies from Sandal to Sandal but generally they're pretty good.) No problems even if they get wet. Only major downside is toes are left unprotected.

Many of my friends swear by them but I personally prefer shoes.

Cost: I think they're in the range Rs. 300-600. Quite cheap.

 2] Believe it or not, these are the shoes I've worn on almost all of my treks.

These are semi-formal shoes from red tape made from leather (yeah, you heard it right!!).

The sole is almost paper-thin and offers next to no protection from sharp stones, impact of jumps etc. but the grip they give is unbelievably good.

And they're remarkably durable, considering that I've trudged through streams, rocks, ladders, sharp stones, scree and loose mud wearing them.

Wish Red Tape brings out trekking shoes pretty soon. :-)

Cost: Rs. 999 which is pretty cheap when you compare them with the cost of an average trekking shoe (and they've lasted close to 15-20 treks!!)

 3] Recently, I've purchased these trekking shoes marketed by Action after hearing a lot of praise for them. Haven't tried them out on a trek yet but all indications are good so far. :-)

They come with a rubber sole which is pretty grippy. Also, very light and comfortable. I'm very eager to see how they fare in the field.

Cost: Rs. 750 Very cheap considering that it's supposed to be a proper trekking shoe.

Now THIS is a shoe which I want you to avoid buying at all costs.

This is a Woodland shoe costing approx. Rs. 2700 and it has the honor of being the costliest as well as the most useless (dangerous, even) shoe I ever spent my money on.

The shoe is heavy and most importantly, dangerously slippery on wet surfaces, especially wet rocks.

Never wear this shoe if you have to go near wet places.

Strictly for dry treks (maybe somewhere in the desert).

You can get many other foreign brands with anti-slip soles like North Face, Merrel etc. but they are generally in the range of Rs. 4000-5000. Unless you're really serious about trekking, that's a lot of money.

So, go out and explore, and check out what nature has to offer to you.

Happy trekking!! :-)

Trekking

This is a topic I wished to take up ages ago but never could figure how to describe. Treks are an addiction I got into fairly recently. I started going for treks toward the end of my third year and got totally hooked. :-)

My only regret is that I started so late. :-(

Seeing nature in all it's wild, untamed glory is a sight which cannot be described in mere words. Even pictures and videos will never give you the feeling you get when you huff and puff your way up the slopes only to be totally mesmerized by the unspoiled beauty all around. You forget all your tiredness and exhaustion.

Mother Nature is a Goddess whom you have to give your utmost respect. One mistake and you might not get a second chance. But revere her and you will have the opportunity to experience paradise, if only for a moment.

Mentioned below are some amazing treks I've been to, and would definitely recommend as a good starting point to anyone interested in trying them out.

Significance of the grades:

Easy: These places can be visited by first-timers and amateurs without any worries.

Medium: Better to have a person in your group who is experienced and\or has been to the place before.

1} Naneghat

Grade: Easy

Best time to visit: Monsoons. Naneghat is at the peak of its beauty in this season. The icing on the cake is this lovely little seasonal stream which flows just at the point where the climb begins\ends. Taking a long dip in it is a beautiful way to end this unforgettable trek.

How to reach: Get down at Kalyan station (symbol: K) on the Central line and catch an ST bus going to Malshej Ghat. The bus frequency is pretty good (approx. every 15 mins). Just tell the conductor to halt for a moment at Naneghat and he'll oblige.

The return journey can be a pain though as Naneghat doesn't have a proper bus stop. So try to return to the road by 5:30 - 6 pm latest.

This is where I went for my first trek and it still remains one of my favourites. It is one of the easiest as well as the most beautiful trekking spots around. Just love it.

2} Mahuli

Best time to visit: Monsoons. The huge waterfall you can see in the pic above is a seasonal one. It simply disappears in the scorching heat of our summer. You surely don't want to miss it. However it's deep so be careful.

Grade: Easy

How to reach: Get down at Asangaon station (symbol: An) on the Central line and ask directions to Mahuli. Generally people will give you good directions. Else ask for directions to the highway and enquire with someone there. Be warned, there is a good amount of distance to be walked even before the climb starts. Better start early.

Another amazing place. The best thing about this trek definitely must be the huge waterfall at it's base. This trek also offers a very toned-down idea of what rock climbing is like.

3} Peth

Best time to visit: Monsoons. In summer this place is simply not worth the effort and money required. It's too dull.

Grade: Medium

How to reach: Get down at Karjat station (symbol: S) on the Central line and go to the east side. There, as soon as you leave the station, you see a lot of 'Tum-tum's standing there. Ask them to take you to the base village Ambivli. They generally charge around Rs. 400 - 500 one way so preferably have a group of atleast 5 people so that the cost per head is not very heavy. While returning, if you're lucky you can catch an ST bus from Ambivli around 5:30 pm. Otherwise you have to pay around Rs. 500 - 600 per group to the Tum-tum walas.

If you feel you have had enough of the "easy" stuff and want to go to the next level, this is the place to go. Peth is not so easy but not very tough either and so is a good way of starting with the slightly tough treks. if you are lucky to be there on a good day, you might end up seeing one of the most beautiful views of your lifetime too. Better to have someone who has been here before, though. There are no arrows or guiding marks and you don't want to get stranded in nasty places with no help.

Other than these three, there are many more amazing places to go. A few places would be Tikona, Lohagad, Visapur etc. Just google them and you'll get all the help you need.

Happy trekking!! :-)

Between Me and my Destiny ...

This might come as a shock to most of my friends and colleagues, but to be honest, I'm not an intellectual and logical person. In truth, I'm a person who thinks more with the heart than the head. I place great value on feelings and emotions.

Though my attempt is to be logical and rational as far as possible, many a times, my emotions get the better of me and I end up doing things which I regret later. At times such as these, I have often envied those people who prefer cold logic over emotions. It must be so awesome to be in control of yourself at all times . . .

Since the past few years, I have been making a conscious effort to suppress my emotional nature and be more logical and rational. Rather than expecting others to see and accept me as I am, I have tried to present what others wish to see in me.

Recently, I got a forwarded message which taught me a great lesson. It says:

If you are honest, people cheat you. Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people will be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

The people you care for may not appreciate your affection. Love them anyway.

Give the world your best. It may never be enough. Give your best anyway.

Because in the end, it is between you and destiny ...

It was never between you and them ...