The Eden Experience!

I don’t follow cricket much because I believe it to be over hyped (also becoming an overdose with the IPL 20-20 format) and the cause for all the rest of the sports being relegated to the backseat. It has been made into a religion with a humongous following and the non-followers appear to be just by the handful. However the very fact that it hogs the limelight amongst all the sports and is always the talk of the town, makes it the very cause for anxiety for non-believers like me. So when the IPL fever had peaked , I decided to pay my maiden visit to the iconic Eden Gardens and see for myself what the religion meant to its followers.

All the information that I was loaded with ,regarding the ensuing match was ,about the playing teams and their respective captains, in addition to a couple of other players of international repute on both sides. This was for sure not going to help me in any way to enjoy the game.With this handicap and a lodged dislike for the slow game , I was all set to witness the CSK vs KKR match at Eden on the 7^th of April.

Now the question was, which team to support!It was not difficult for me to align with CSK. Reasons being ,there were too many to support KKR at the home ground, so the visitors needed to be backed , I didn’t like SRK and because Dhoni after the world cup win had done the country proud, and was being called “ Man with the Midas touch”, not to miss out on his good looks. So to show our solidarity my companions and me, put on yellow t-shirts and headed for the iconic ground which is the second largest stadium in the world with the capacity to seat 1,20,000 spectators , post renovation.

Each player was acknowledged before the start of the game and that was for the first time , I was hearing most of the names. But surprisingly the cheers from the crowd were reserved for them as well, though in no way comparable to those meant for names like Dhoni, Gambhir and Brett Lee. An element of interest arose when the cheergirls from KKR took their places and the crowd applauded vehemently ,however surprise took over when for CSK the cheergirls were accompanied by cheer boys. Anyways KKR had my support at least for their cheering team with the girls displaying lively and gracious moves during every small interval in contrast to the dull CSK cheerteam.

The game started at the Indian Standard Time just before my patience was about to run out.CSK won the toss and decided on first strike. Firstly watching the tiny players, fussing around with an even tinier, difficult to locate ball,did not interest me. Secondly I had no idea who was on the crease and who was bowling. My gaze would instantly shift to the cheer-girls who were after all apparently filled with more life than the sloppy players. Soon I found the need to munch on something, so we headed for purchasing snacks which to my utter dismay were selling at approximately three times the market price. Having shelled out money generously though with a little loath, we headed back for our seats.

The game gradually progressed from its boring stage ,the stadium was roaring and all of a sudden there appeared to be massive energy flowing through the crowds. My interest was brought back when the loss of a wicket produced a thunderous uproar or a subsequent four garnered considerable appreciation. It was then that I was reminded of the fact that Eden has indeed a vociferous crowd. Gradually I could sense the stadium brimming with life.People were cheering like wild, every individual seemed to be thoroughly involved, with their cheers, little dances of celebration, waving of hands,placards,water bottles or anything that the hand grasped and every time it appeared that the cameras were aiming in their direction, the intensity and enthusiasm of the crowd almost multiplied. Curiously I found myself to be one amongst the crowd doing exactly the same. There were times when a mighty four would made me stand on the seat and cheer with the others.

The best experience however,was when an apparently unceasing Mexican wave initiated at one end of the stand and did almost six to seven rounds, before dying down. This showed how every individual was part of the game or the religion and thus was in his own capacity a true worshiper.

I was thoroughly enjoying the vibrant and charged atmosphere at the stadium and had almost lost count of the time. For us as a group ,much of the fun lay in cheering for CSK after every mighty four which would instantly be cut short by a counter support for KKR as we were surrounded by their supporters who were by the horde. The friendly banter, cheering, counter cheering and booing continued inspite of sore throats and hoarse voice.

All this not just brought back my interest to the players on the field but also to the game which I had labeled as dull and boring.

However just when the interest and adrenaline seemed to be soaring, the rain played the spoilt sport and the game was brought to a halt. When the downpour refused to contain, KKR was doled out an easy win on account of the Duckworth-Lewis method which I believe was quite unfair, as in the 20-20 format there is always a fair chance of coming back into the game.With just half the overs bowled KKR was declared winner by 10 runs

But for me there was nothing to lose as I had had one of the best times of my life watching the game. As we strolled out of the stadium made heady by the charged atmosphere , I wanted more.I did not regret even a single moment spent at Eden in spite of the rain marred match.

It took me just that day to realize what the might of cricket was, as it was not just the players but also the spectators that made the match worth watching.And on that day,becoming transformed into a follower of the religion called cricket, was a remarkable experience.

Kolkata Road Transport: Like Nowhere Else!

Where on road,can you experience the slogging traffic and at the same time the speed of a racing car!

Believe it or not, the Kolkata road transport offers you both the opportunities and that too at dirt cheap price. This city is full of experiences that you may not come across elsewhere!

If you detest speed and have ample time in hand to look out of the window to savour a glimpse of Kolkata street life, a tram is the best means. Don’t be surprised if the hand drawn rickshaw, typical of Kolkata streets, whizzes past you or if you are overtaken by someone walking briskly. You will beyond doubt still see people using this mode, not to forget mentioning it being jam-packed during the rush evening hours. Another similar experience is when stuck in a traffic snarl, then be it your hatchback, sedan or your SUV, all move at an equated pace.

And if speed gives you the high, then forget the bikes and the highway, just get on board the blue coloured Govt. transport buses or even the red private minibuses. I take the liberty to call them “Govt. Racing Cars” or should they be labeled the “Concorde on Road”! Either ways they give you similar experience. These are everyday experiences that I undergo on my way back home in the evening.

Another peculiar feature on the roads of Kolkata, is how men are very much at home with the fact that they ought to get on or down a bus while it is speeding down rather than coming to a complete halt, while on the contrary, for ladies it is ensured that they get on or get down the bus only when it comes to a complete halt.Yes and the so called "Ladies only" seats are meant only for ladies.This practice is followed so religiously in the blue buses that even if some reserved seats for ladies are vacant and men outnumber the seats meant for them, they would in most of the cases be obliged to remain standing rather than occupy them.

Now Kolkata is a very passenger friendly city, with bus stop being anywhere a prospective passenger is seen signaling his hand for the bus to stop. Be it in the midst of a busy road, at a cross road, in an empty street or with fleets of vehicles honking behind it. The first priority is picking up the passenger.

Here, one tells the conductor the amount for which one wants to get a ticket made rather than telling him the destination and letting him decide the amount. So I tell him to make me a ticket for four rupees rather than tell him that I want a ticket for Purto Bhawan.

While early morning, rickshaw drivers may bicker with you to pay the” change” when handing over the “big note”, you may always rely on the bus conductors to give you Rs 96 back without any complaints , when charging four rupees from a hundred rupee note.

Now shuttle is the best way to travel long distance, when you want to avoid the hefty charge of a reserved taxi for long distance and at the same time seek the comfort of a private vehicle at pretty low rates. For dropping me at the airport from my house, while I may have the option of hiring the yellow taxis omnipresent on Kolkata streets by paying Rs. 180, I may also opt for a Rs. 40 drive in a shuttle. For the uninitiated, the description” shuttle” may apply to any kind of a personal vehicle, be it a TATA INNOVA or Maruti 800 used as a public transport and with a non-yellow number plate. Now the only challenge for those new to this place is to differentiate a shuttle from a personal vehicle. Well, time teaches you but chances are, that in your initial attempts you may find yourself being stared awkwardly in the face by the passengers ,when you crane in your neck at the windscreen of a stationed Indica, and inquire if it was going to a particular place.

But one of my experiences that stands out and solicits a mention,is the cat and mouse chase of two JNNURN low floor buses. Forget Delhi’s blueline rash driving, I experienced a real life thrill when another JNNURM bus vroomed and scraped past our bus, just sparing a violent shattering of glasses at an uber cool speed! This action not just started a reaction of colourful Bengali expletives from driver, conductor and passengers alike but also drove the driver to take corrective action and not let the culprit get ahead of him. So as our overtaker halted ahead to pick up passengers, our bus driver ran full throttle to show the other who the leader was. Determined not to be defeated, the speeding driver found the easy way out than to step up gas. He just steered his bus right into the middle of the path of our bus to prevent him from surging ahead causing our bus to come to a shuddering halt. This was not to be forgiven by our bus driver who now decided that the culprit should be brought to his senses after dragging him out of the bus. As both the driver and conductor shouted at him daring him to step out hoping to teach a lesson, the man realized that the only way out of getting thrashed publicly was to speed away, and so he did. But this was not destined to pass away so easily. So our driver decided to intercept his path and catch hold of him, even if it meant speeding at teeth-jarring speed on the potholed roads , driving on the road parallel to the other bus even if it was meant for opposite way traffic and above all with a busload of dumbstruck passengers. While this continued for about a minute and ended with the defeat of our bus driver, the disgusted driver ordered all the passengers to get down the bus as it would go no further. The aghast passengers were in no condition to argue and just got down all the while surprised that they managed to stay alive.

Well full of surprises, pleasant or unpleasant, but a drive on the Kolkata road is an experience in itself !

An Ode to Myself : How I Adore Thee !

How I adore thee, to limits that cannot be defined,

Would never violate thee in body, soul and mind.

Nothing infuriates me more than some insignificant entity,

making me lose my peace of mind and its sanctity.

I pamper thee, I behold thee ,I love thee, sans condition,

Strive to keep thee in good spirit and satisfaction.

I keep thee busy, trust and humour thee,

But you know that without you I could never be.

I seek thine company, give thee solitude and crowd,

In leisure with you I loiter or laze around.

I shed tears only to make for thee cathartic, the gloomy situation,

Thy art my witness to glory and humiliation.

I confide in you, duel you and reason out with you,

But there is none but you, that I come back to.

I listen to you, overlook you, and also ignore,

But you know, I cannot paddle without an oar.

So give me company, as long as you can,

Cause you are the shepherd that herds this lamb.

Keep me grounded and be my guiding light,

Make me blossom and guide me on the path of right.

Nature's Child

I am nature’s child.Nothing for me is more welcome, peaceful and salubrious ,as being in the midst of Mother Nature. Rendezvous with nature keeps me in good spirit. Lord Byron’s following verse in Childe Harold, aptly applies to me:

"There is pleasure in the pathless woods,

There is a rapture on the lonely shore,

There is society, where none intrudes,

By the deep sea, and music in its roar:

I love not man the less, but Nature more,

From these our interviews, in which I steal

From all I may be, or have been before,

To mingle with the Universe, and feel

What I can ne’er express, yet cannot all conceal."

I opine, that nature is the best creation of God.The eternal, ethereal, pious beauty of nature , unviolated by the destructive human touch, is a nectar for mind and ambrosia for soul. The multiplicity of hues and shades coupled with the enormity of expanse and minuscular details is simply mesmerizing. The very glimpse of it never fails to make me behold it with awe and inspiration. The soul that runs through this creation of the almighty also runs through me, and the very thought makes me feel so privileged and at peace.

I have been fortunate enough to be born and brought up in Mother Nature's lap.In my beautiful (though now deteriorating) hometown of Nainital, the clear blue sky with the cottony clouds, the murmuring brooks that finally meet their destiny in the lake, the chirping birds atop the pine, chinar,poplar and willow, the cool breeze from the lake, the snow flakes, the lashing rains and hail, smell of the earth after the first rain and the warm winter sun, all form an inseparable part of my childhood. Out here "Spring is the time of the year, when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade" and where every season bestows a new colour to the surroundings, each prettier than the previous. With all the four seasons endowing their best in this geographical region of the temperate zone, I have been able to witness and appreciate the best that nature has endowed on humanity.

Every time I feel the need for rejuvenating myself, I end up picturing myself in a land which abounds in beauty that takes my breath away and renders my senses insufficient to imbibe it all in, the land where I will touch a thousand flowers and not pick one,I will feel the breeze and the warm sunshine in my face , where I will carelessly wander with no worries to trouble me, no pain to smart under and no conscience to be pricked, but just pure bliss that will manifest in the form of a smile on the lips, a song in the heart and a skip in every step. Having been away from my roots for quite some time now, I await and look forward to embark on such a journey where nature's solitude will give me company.

My Landlady’s Saga

As if the fact, that I had been over blessed with a PG with a perfect location and wonderful PG mates had to be compensated in one way or the other .Therefore the blessing was tempered, in the form of the wicked, miser, money minded landlady, whose philosophy, was that we ought to put up with all her eccentric decisions that she imposed on us and her actions demanded no questioning or challenging in return. This on her part, required just a simple blatant overlooking of the fact that we paid for what we availed. Ignoring the fact that we paid considerably more than what a comparable PG would have cost us and lived in complete harmony with the inmates as well as the neighbours , we were considered to be irresponsible, self centered ( as if we should have centered our existence around the landlady’s profitability and needs) and undisciplined girls. We were in a way prohibited from even asking for a logical explanation for a certain illogical step undertaken by her or even air our grievances arising as a result of some weird rule implemented by her.

Irrespective of the fact that since she was our landlady who ought to lent a patient ear to any of our problems while we stayed as a paying guest, it was considered a blasphemy if we called her up to disturb

her. A couple of calls to voice the same concern, was labeled an act of pestering by having called up infinite number of times solely with the motive of irritating her and rendering her life a living hell. Having been once slapped with the notice to vacate the PG for no discernable fault at our end but grave offence at her end, we all decided to keep a low profile even if it meant bearing up with the faulty services and inconveniences.

While she would sent us a copy of the rules and regulations that we were supposed to religiously follow, whenever she wanted us to remind of them; there were times when we were made to face a situation that ought to have been specified in the rules book before we were made to sign it, to show our acceptance. One such omitted rule was that during the occasion of Durga Puja, those who did not go to their respective homes, would be made to temporarily shift to another PG run by the landlady, where all the remaining girls were supposed to stay in order to make it economical for her. No one was supposed to tell her how inconvenient and troublesome it would be for the girls to pack everything right from a toothbrush, to clothes, to iron, to idols of Gods and ancillaries thereof for the Puja time, not to mention that it could get distracting for those who were during the professional training period to concentrate on their studies in the new location. Our effort to tell her the same, fell on deaf ears,as she only started a tirade of scolding for our being irresponsible and troublesome. Low grade ration, unhygienic food, insufficient vegetables, insufficient cutlery , same old menu month after month, gradual reduction in so called niceties like biweekly noodles , paneer or bread for sandwich , TV with no remote, broken curtain rods, leaking taps and dimly lit rooms ,were of course no reasons for complaining.

The house maids (masis) who looked after the house were in themselves unhygienic, leave alone the hygiene of the house. After staying for so long with one of them, when we had bonded well with the masi at our PG and had got used to her as she picked up some neat habits, the landlady decided to shuffle the housemaids. As getting accustomed to another maid did not find favour with either us ,or the maid herself, we decided to risk giving her another call, only to face another tirade of abuse and being asked as to who we were to question her decision.

Pelt a stone at slush and the drops land only on you. This was the thinking that we developed as we continued to stay in the PG, only because if seemed like a family together there and the PG was most conveniently located, close by to our respective offices. Initially our hunt for another PG had only strengthened our belief that it was the best possible option in every aspect of the company that we had at the PG and its location and safety. So making sure that any inconvenience was sorted out between the inmates, we continued living life our way except for the temporary, unavoidable, interference from the landlady which we considered just a passing phase not to be bothered by!

My Celebrating Holi …the MANAGE way!!!

Students start pouring in at the venue for holi celebrations. It may be customery for some to enter the class late but here they make it a point to come on time or even before time, ’cause it is time to revel not just in the various hues of gulal but also to revel in the colours of life and the bliss that it offers. Venue…..poolside. Replete with colours, a patch of land in the corner specially prepared with the right consistency of slush to wallow in!!! Other than the coloured water in the swimming pool ,a hose consistently supplies water for Holi revelries. Also at another corner is a table with refreshments.For those dying to take the earliest plunge there are no rules for the day….for the reluctant breed like me there are set rules. .Senior girls would not spare any of the junior girls. They are forced out of their hide-outs,soaked in buckets of coloured water ,faces smeared with colours and taken out to the specially dug out pit full of slush and dumped into it.Then the earth coloured unidentifiable entities are thrown into the adjoining swimming pool, to help them wash off the mix of mud and colours.The effect of the entire series of events is such that once you regain your breath you're on the look -out for batchmates who deserve a similar fate ! Inhibitions and reluctance is all washed off with the splashed coloured water.We play Holi till we are overcome with fatigue and then make way to grab whatever is left of the refreshments.With this the Holi revelries come to an end ,leaving students scrubbing there faces hard to remove the colours from their faces to regain their identity!

A Trek to Remember !!!

We were browsing through a friend’s facebook snaps when we came across snaps clicked during an expedition to Mullayanagiri, the highest peak in Karnataka. A casual remark followed “Wow, wish we could trek there” and this is how the trekking idea took birth. This was followed by numerous efforts to google the best trekking route, lookout for becoming a part of the BMC’s trekking group and all related efforts and enquiries at BMC ,in addition to one point of time when we almost lost hope of any such plan materializing. Ultimately it was decided that we would venture out on our own and hire a local guide to help us out with the route. All thanks to one of the Awesome Foursome , who being a Kannadiga and with contacts at Chikmagalur made it all the more easy.Also the unrelenting attitude of the others to not let the opportunity get out of hand in spite of uncertainty, helped in the plan actually taking shape. And this is how it all began!!!
So the AwesomeFoursome set out on an excursion which was to start with a trekking trip to Chikmagalur and was to come to an end with a visit to Tirupati followed by Sri Kalahasti.
Chikmagalur is a beautiful town located in the foothills of Baba Budan Giri Hill Range. The name is synonymous with verdant forests, scenic views, beautiful waterfalls, coffee estates and charming temples tucked away in the mountains and said to be a trekker's paradise. Chikmagalur district is a misty mountain territory home to the highest peak in Karnataka , Mullayanagiri,1930 metres AMSL.
Our trekking expedition started towards Mullayanagiri and on the way we visited a coffee estate .Further on the way we witnessed pristine scenic beauty. The hills with hues varying from different shades of brown and green interspersed with rocks made it a picture perfect locale. The steep topography made it a really challenging climb. Also on the trekking route were fresh water springs gushing with cool and rejuvenating water.
It was a perfect blend of scenic locales and wonderful company. The Awesome Foursome oozing exuberance with the very thought of venturing out on a trekking excursion. The destination being Mullayanagiri. We foursome all abuzz with life and ofcourse our trademark characteristics of optimism, pessimism and moderation with dollops of confusion, thoroughly basked in the nature’s glory. Every moment that we spend in that trekker’s paradise brought us even closer to nature as we soaked up all the scenic beauty that reflected from each of nature’s entity.Be it the multi-hued mountain ranges,the dense patches of green,the dark shaded rocks jutting out infrequently or the gushing spring water.Every aspect of nature that we encountered had but to offer us rejuvenation,peace of mind, beauty in its pristine form and a soothing gush of cool wind in every breath that we drew in.
Though the litter by trekkers at some places and certain patches in the hills rendered barren by forest fires were a sore to the eye, yet we looked at the good and the promising side of the experience. Oh how unmindful we had been of the steep slopes that we trekked through in that rush of adrenaline and energy! Now we look back in awe at what we have actually achieved. Nothing could hinder us ,not the steep topography, not the fatigue, neither the fear of heights, complete lack of human existence around us nor the scare of having lost the way when we were a couple of kilometers away from the summit! We kept moving forward, encouraging one of us who was fatigued out to give it her best ,and surprisingly she did manage to do just as well ! We took breaks for photo shoots to capture the breathtaking sights of the hills and the dizzying heights as a souvenir and also as evidence that we could actually make it to the summit! We replenished our energy with bars of chocolate and poppins and the cool pure water that we filled from the natural springs on the way.
On the way to the summit we reached Sitalayyanagiri where a temple is located and in its vicinity we could see two large Raths constructed as a part of annual celebrations at the temple. A short stay at the place and we further resumed our trekking.
After hours of trekking, sprang In view the seemingly unending flight of steps that led to the temple at the summit of Mullayanagiri. With the destination within reach ,the joy of having made it to the top made us spring to our feet and out of the blue energized us to reach the top of the stairs. Infact the boost of energy was such that we even raced with each other as to who could make it to the summit first!
Once at the summit, the view was breathtakingly beautiful. In that gigantic expanse of space I stood higher than the mighty hills around me. However small my existence may have been at that point of time but my determination to scale the peak and my ability of having achieved that did fill me with the feeling of pride and self-contentment not to forget mentioning the bliss of being in the lap of mother nature.
Even the fatigue could not come in the way of smiles on our faces when we glanced down from the summit with a brew of feelings somewhat akin to having won a battle. After the darshan at the temple on the summit and the prasadam we made our way back to base.The climb downhill was a much easier task.Newer fronts were now left for us to explore as we headed for Dattatreya Peetha .
The peetha is a small cave shrine on top of Baba Budangiri hills and is devoted to Guru Dattatreya( an incarnation of the 3 Supreme Gods - Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma )and Sufi Saint Baba Budan and is revered by both Muslims and Hindus alike. It has been controversial due to political and religious tension over its status as a syncretism shrine.
Our next destination was Manikyadhara, a fall, which under the sun’s rays gleamed like a stream of diamonds and from which it derieves its name.
Having reached the town,we now headed for the Chennakeshava Temple at Belur,about 25 km from Chikmagalur located in the Hassan District. It is an absolute masterpiece of Hoysala architecture with the temple walls and facades adorned with splendid and intricate carvings of animal and human forms and filigree work.
As the sun started setting we made our way to the Yagachi Dam around 10 km fro Belur ,to capture the setting sun against the backdrop of the water of river Yagachi.. It was a picture perfect location. After having seen the sun set, we made our way back to our lodge where we put up for the night .
The next day we headed for Bangalore from where we boarded the bus to Tirumala.
The Sri Venkateswara temple located on the seventh peak, Venkatachala (Venkata Hill) of the Tirupati Hill is reportedly one of the richest and the most flocked by devotees. We visited various teerthams like the Akasaganga Teertham , Papavinasanam Teertham , Chakra Teertham , Sri Venkateshwaraswami Padalu at Dharmagiri amongst others.This was followed by a bus journey to Kalahasti.
Sri Kalahasthi Temple is considered as the Kailash of the south or Dakshin Kailash. Srikalahasthi is around 40 kms from Tirupati and considered as one of the panchabootha stalams (temples celebrating Lord Siva as the embodiment of the primary elements).
The wonderful trip had come to an end. We boarded the train back to Hyderabad from Renigunta. Tired though we were towards the end ,yet we could not help talk over and over again about the moments spent and various instances that we came across during that period. Now back at Hyderabad we are back at planning another trip…………