Arbit Raj

Speed Dating Anyone?

2007-02-09T12:10:00.000+05:30

A speed dating event with a twist! Only wealthy men and beautiful women may apply!! Can you believe it? It can't get more politically incorrect than that, right??

The organisers Pocket Change (and I seriously recommend visiting the link to see the criteria they have laid down) have come up with this concept called 'Natural Selection Speed Dating'. They went ahead with the event with 40 men and women participating, and of course these were people who met the criteria.

What the organisers say is that they have latched on to folk wisdom. Men seek beautiful females for partners while females seek men with wealth and power. As you would expect they have got flak from many for being so blatantly 'sexist' and 'crass'.

You might notice that I have marked the last two adjectives above in quotes. Do I agree with what they are doing? Well, I have no comments to make on that. But there is quite some interesting background to what these people are saying.

A field of study called evolutionary psychology gives a nice angle to this whole 'wealthy men, sexy women' concept. The whole premise behind this field is that our mental makeup, behaviour and hardwiring that goes into what the brain is, has been shaped by thousands of years of evolution. The environments that we as a species have been through have molded your brain, your emotions, the way you react when you see a sibling, parental love, the choice of mate, why someone cheats on a partner among many other things. Not to say that, we are automatons without conscious control. But, accepting the fact that we have hardwired logic governing our thoughts, choices and interactions with others.

Does it sound too far fetched? Well, we agree with things evolution tells us like why people around the tropics have dark skin, right? The pigment melanin protects again sunlight, for example. Its an evolutionary development shaped by exposure to strong sunlight (environment). So, if you can extend the logic to the realm of the mind, many things can be explained in this framework.

From a purely reproductive angle, males look for a beautiful female, in the search for a healthy set of genes and females seek a male with status and wealth to further the benefits accruing to the potential offspring. Simply, put, evolutionary psychology says that sometimes folk wisdom has in-built logic. It did not get adopted by 'folk' if it did not have inherent sense. If it did not make sense, it would have withered away from collective memory.

But the twist about evolutionary psychology is that the adaptations are made for the environment that shaped us. If the environment changes drastically, the adaptations will not be particularly helpful usually. In the case of mankind, the environment (not environment in the conventional ecological sense, but that governing our interactions with others) has changed so rapidly over the last few thousand years that we are sometimes at the whims and fancies of commands from the past in a different today.

What the speed dating event has done is brought a fact of life forward. It is something that most know but few are ok with, accepting publicly.

As a side note, I would suggest reading a book called "Moral Animal - Why we are the way we are" by Robert Wright. Its rich and stimulating. For those who like their books with the thinking cap on, I assure you its a good read.

Tikona Fort Trek

2006-12-25T16:48:00.000+05:30

The trek destination chosen this time was Tikona Fort. We set off from Khadki station to reach Kamshet (2 stations before Lonavala) by local train. We got an 8:15 PM train which takes around an hour to reach Kamshet. There were 11 of us from Pune and there was a group of 3 from Mumbai, who were going to meet us at Kamshet. There was some chaos as we reached Kamshet because one of us missed the station and got down at the next station Malavli. So there was an extra six-seater ride from Malavli back to Kamshet.

It was already around 10 PM and the sun had ascended in the sky and was blazing away. We quickly made our way down the station road to the bus stand. Here we negotiated a ride in a Trax jeep for Rs. 300, to the Tikona Peth, which is the base village for the trek. In case you did not add up the numbers I mentioned earlier, the question of how to fit 14 adults in a jeep would have hit you! It was not exactly comfortable and on every bump and crater, along with the creaks the jeep let out, there were muffled groans from the occupants as well. But on a trek these are trivial concerns and only led to rounds of jokes and manic laughter.

After a 30-40 mins. ride we reached Tikona Peth, having passed Kale Colony and the Pavana Sagar dam on the way. We tumbled out of the jeep and started off on the trail to Tikona Fort. This trek is a simple one, with a well-defined path to the top and absolutely no technically challenging aspect.

As the name suggests, this fort is located on a hill with triangular faces. In fact, it looks like a pyramid as you approach the fort. There are two paths up the hill. One goes straight past the fort does a U-turn and then ascends up the ridge. The other will not be easily sighted but it is much shorter. You have to go right, off the main path, and go up the first pyramid edge of the hill that you come across. Past the geometry , time to go ahead. :-)

The path went past the fort and for the first time we got a clear glimpse. The fort looks like impenetrable if you go by the sheer cliff below the fort walls, which fall rapidly down to the ground.

After some time the ascent started. At a fork, we turned right and were greeted by a beautiful landscape opening up before us. There is a small lake that can be seen on the other side of the ridge. Further up, the climb was steep but never exhausting. This being a short trek the fort was always in sight and this also was encouraging in a way.
Halfway up we came across a huge water tank and a temple. The shorter route that I mentioned above, meets the water tank towards the right. We went left and soon encountered the steepest staircase I've seen in some time. The angle is very sharp and each stair is actually a huge carved stone block more than a foot high. Some trivia that I picked up on a past trek was that, the Maratha's used rocks carved out of the mountains themselves and built fortifications as needed. They avoided hauling them up, smart, eh?

Just below the fort there is a water tank that has chilled water that is drinkable. Hunger pangs found voice and we decided to have food right there in the cool environs. It was a funny sight as we laid a newspaper on the ground and out tumbled assorted food items from haversacks. The ubiquitous bread-butter was followed by sweet lime, namkeen, Parle G, cheese spread and bananas. All wolfed down with gusto! Satiety is to be experienced on a trek. True hunger kicks in only when you push yourself. And then you can feel like you've had a meal fit for a king with the simplest of foods.

From here it was a 5 minute walk to the highest point on the fort. The most beautiful scenery unfolded before us. We could see the Pavana lake in a shimmering azure, mirroring the open sky. Tung fort stood serenely yet majestically, held by the lake waters.

With the high point reached, we went around the fort walls and took in the landscapes. There was a window that gave an awesome view off the ridge which we had just climbed up. Must say that a sentry standing here would have ample time to ring the alarms if any enemy made his way up.

We then made our way down the steep stairs again. In the monsoon these stairs would be extremely slippery and trekkers would need to exercise caution, because there is less room for mistake. Overall, the way down was simple though and we made our way towards Tikona Peth village via the shorter route. In an hour we were back. Then followed the comparatively boring part - waiting for the State Transport bus to take us back to Kamshet. It finally arrived and we hopped in. And then the local train from Kamshet back to Pune followed.

Back to the concrete jungle, with enough raw beauty imbibed, to keep me satiated till the next trek!

Waxing Lyrical

2006-10-23T11:37:00.000+05:30

This post is about some of my all time favourite lyrics. One of the questions that I have always had about songwriting is how the writer can come up with myriad emotions in a song through evocative lyrics. Has the writer already gone through the same situation which is put down into words? Because sometimes the lyrics are so emotionally charged and feel so personal that anything otherwise seems too difficult.

All I want is everything - Def Leppard
All I want is everything
Am I asking too much?
All I want is everything
Like the feel of your touch
But all I have are yesterdays
Tomorrow never comes

Its hard to hold your head up
When you're kneeling down to pray
And the talking doesn't come easy now
When the words get in the way
And if you could see what's going on
Behind these private eyes
The truth would look so easy now
But I'm running out of lies

You Oughta Know - Alanis Morissette
Cause the love that you gave that we made wasn't able
To make it enough for you to be open wide, no
And every time you speak her name
Does she know how you told me you'd hold me
Until you died, till you died
But you're still alive

And I'm here to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know

Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea,
to the open arms of the sea.
Lonely rivers sigh, wait for me,
wait for me.
I'll be coming home, wait for me

What it takes - Aerosmith
There goes my old girlfriend
There's another diamond ring
And all those late night promises
I guess they don't mean a thing
So baby, whats the story?
Did you find another man?
Is it easy to sleep in the bed that we made?
When you dont look back I guess
The feelings start to fade away
I used to feel your fire
But now its cold inside
And you're back on the street
Like you didn't miss a beat, yeah

Tell me what it takes to let you go

Things have changed - Bob Dylan
People are crazy and times are strange
I'm locked in tight, I'm out of range
I used to care, but things have changed

Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits
Now the sun's gone to hell
And the moon's riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But its written in the starlight
And every line on your palm
We're fools to make war
On our brothers in arms

Thousand Years - Sting
A million roads, a million fears
A million suns, ten million years of uncertainty
I could speak a million lies, a million songs,
A million rights, a million wrongs in this balance of time
But if there was a single truth, a single light
A single thought, a singular touch of grace
Then following this single point , this single flame,
The single haunted memory of your face

I still love you
I still want you
A thousand times the mysteries unfold themselves
Like galaxies in my head

One - U2
Have you come here for forgiveness?
Have you come tor raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head?
Did I ask too much?
More than a lot
You gave me nothing
Now its all I got
We're one
But we're not the same
We hurt each other
Then we do it again

There was a show they did at Belfast where Bono, the U2 frontman, spoke this beauty of a line before heading into the song.

'To be one is a great thing, but to respect differences, even greater'

All this might seem dry in this blog if you are not familiar with these songs, but I strongly recommend listening to these songs and sinking deeper into the rich emotionscapes!

Charged and adjudged guilty!

2006-09-23T01:41:00.000+05:30

Yesterday I was travelling by the usual Volvo bus from Pune to Mumbai and I had a experience that troubled me. A Volvo bus has a 2x2 seating arrangement. I was seated on the left pair of seats with one seat vacant. Similarly there was one female sitting immediately behind me with the other seat vacant. Three stops down from where I had got in, a female got onto the bus, came down the aisle, and stopped near my seat. I got up to let her move in towards the window seat. I could not sit immediately because there were some more people moving up and down the narrow aisle. And then I saw the first female sitting behind talking with the second one who had just come in and gesticulating. I sat down and was quite taken aback to hear the first female going on and convincing the second female quite fervently to come and sit beside her instead and avoid a male on the other seat. Not that the second female needed much convincing. So I moved aside and let her pass....

This bothered me. I can empathize with their case, because their fears were valid - on an average, yes! But at the same time it felt quite rude and insulting deep down. Because I heard stuff like "it would be a problem", "its not comfortable", "its safer", which were really politically correct ways of saying "Hey, this guy beside you might be a pervert or the sorts who likes to grope in the dark".

Feels weird to be considered equal to a lecherous male, high on hormones and low on self-control. Hey, I need another seat. I'm not comfortable in this position!

Biking and Rafting on Kundalika river

2006-08-26T14:46:00.000+05:30

I had been planning a rafting trip since a long time. To be precise, for more than a year. I have done whitewater rafting on the Ganga, from Shivpuri to Rishikesh. Now that had been one super experience, so I was quite keen on going headlong into the churning waters once again.

So finally, we decided to go rafting trip on the Kundalika river on 15th Aug. The starting point for rafting is near Kolad (quite close to the Mumbai Goa Highway), 105 kms from Pune (Chandni Chowk) and approx. 120 kms from Mumbai . Google if you are interested in knowing more about the rafting operators. Try "Kundalika" "river rafting".

Anyway, back to how it all started. Neelaksh and Hitu on one bike and Sumit and I on another, met up at Chandni Chowk, Pune at around 7 in the morning. It was pouring already and our clothes were soaking wet. The windcheater was doing a perfunctory job of keeping the rain out. We took off on the Paud road which is in very good shape, compared to the sorry state of Pune city roads. It was awesome weather, provided you don't mind being drenched to the bone. For those who understand what I'm saying, the natural beauty of the monsoons in this part of the country more than makes up for any discomfort.

As a biking quote goes, "If you don't ride in the rains, you don't ride".

It was around 30-35 kms down when we first sighted the Mulshi lake. It suddenly came into view and we were simply left speechless. When seen with the misty hills in the background that surround it, it gives you an impression of arriving in some undiscovered mystical place. The lake was “filled to the brim” if you could call it so. Where it met land there was submerged trees with their dome like canopies standing out of the water. The Mulshi lake feeds water into the Mula river that flows through Pune and the recent flooding in Pune was partly due to the excess buildup of rain water in the Mulshi lake. The route circumnavigated around the Mulshi lake. Increasingly the road became foggy and it started raining heavily. Our speed went down and we tried to make the best time possible as we were running late. But also, going slow, let us soak in more of the environs, which were uplifting to say the least.

Soon we started ascending up Tamhini Ghat. From descriptions on the Net I knew there was amazing scenery in store. And we were not let down. Now it was no longer fog. The clouds had descended down to earth. We had no other option but to switch on the headlight and the turning indicator. And even that did not help much in the viscous, swirling greys around us.

Every now and then there would be roaring waterfalls coming into sight beside the road. Apparently there was a deep valley to our right, but we could never see due to the low visibility. After some time we reached the top of the Tamhini Ghat. Finally we could see down below to the plains stretching far away. Clusters of tiled roofs marked villages below. Roads took on the appearance of glistening silver ribbons in the distance. The descent consisted of winding roads blasted through towering rock formations and hairpin bends. The engine finally got a breather and I could gently ease it into 4^th and 5^th gear on the straight stretches down. In not more than 20-25 mins we covered the descent and came out near a junction in Kolad.

From here we went to Sutarwadi and reached the rafting point, besides the banks of the Kundalika. It had taken us 3 hours from Chandni Chowk and we reached in the nick of time, for the rafting was about to begin. The jolly instructor Pawan, took us through the commands, safety drills and general instructions to be followed. The raft was gently pushed into the water and we were off on the way. The rafting on the Kundalika is good for people who are yet to get over their fear of water, or for whom Rishikesh is too far away. Having done Rishikesh, I frankly was a bit bored with the rather dull Kundalika rapids. The websites advertise Kundalika saying "Grade II and Grade III rapids". In my opinon these were Grade II (Grade V being the toughest) at the best. My friends who had never experienced it before though were enjoying it to the hilt. There are 3-4 rapids on the rafting run. The best one was actually like an aquatic roller-coaster.

After around an hour of rafting, we entered the calmer section of the river, where it widens significantly. Here we went into the water with life jackets on. For those who haven’t done it before it is actually a “leap of faith”. But you don’t need to worry much. The life jacket is sufficient to keep your head safe above the water, so don’t picture yourself gasping for air. This is where the Kundalika scores above the Ganga. At Shivpuri, the Ganga receives ice-cold water from the upper reaches of Garwhal. If you enter the water, it would not be more than 10 minutes before you have a tough time feeling sensation in your legs, as they go numb. Here in contrast, we were having a merry time in the water, drifting languidly, gazing at the rich greenery and the occasional waterfall on either side. “Body surfing” as this is called went on around half an hour and honestly by the end of it, we didn’t feel like coming out of the water. As the run ended, we got back on terra firma, reached the rafting operators office and had steaming hot wada pavs and chai. We gathered our stuff back again and loaded up for the ride back.

This time we had more time to spend on the way back at all the various “points” and waterfalls on the way. Retracing the road back, we soon went up Tamhini Ghat. From then on it was a leisurely ride back to Pune. Just that now it took us more time than in the morning, due to the huge crowds of picnickers who had come to make merry at the numerous waterfalls. They also afforded us some very comic sights. Indian males are much castigated for being boors. Well, these guys were visual evidence. Clothed with nothing but very brief “briefs”. huge potbellies, drunken gaits, tottering all over the road, with a bottle in the hand for company. And the more enthusiastic ones had come up in Sumos, with stereos on full blast and had set up their dance floors beside the road. Negotiating their next drunken move on the road, we passed by each group and carried on.

Finally, we reached Chandni Chowk around 7 in the evening. The legs were weary, muscles knotted, and clothes drenched completley. But there was a wistful smile on my face as I looked back at the day gone by. We bid goodbye and departed for our homes.

Also with my second long ride, I had also realized why Royal Enfield owners can bore others to death about how good the bike is, why its to be treated with respect and how other bikes simply don't compare. I will spare you the standard fare and say that it is to be experienced to be understood. Period.

Oh, one important thing. The rafting guys mention Rs. 1100 for a rafting run. You can bargain and easily get it down to Rs. 750. Spread the word :-)

Matheran Trek

2006-07-16T19:24:00.000+05:30

Last week I went with my usual gang of trekkers to Matheran. We intended to go via the Garbett Plateau route from Bhivpuri. For those who don't know Matheran is the only hill station in India that does not allow motor traffic. It has definitely helped preserve the pristine beauty of this place. Monsoons bring out the best in Matheran and we definitely had one awesome trek.

The Pune junta took the 6:05 Sinhagad Express towards Karjat and then a local train towards Bombay to get down at Bhivpuri station, which is the next station after Karjat. The Mumbai junta had an easier option of taking one local train from CST to Karjat. All of us assembled at Bhivpuri. One of the trek site descriptions mentioned that we have to start walking from the Karjat end of the platform. Well, we didn't and that was the source of so much confusion on this trek, because we never reached Garbett Plateau. We reached Matheran directly and came out somewhere near Garbett Point (from where you get a good view of the plateau itself). Well, that surely is not cutting a long story short, because even though we took another route and found our way serendipitously, we had an amazing trek nonetheless.

So as I said we started off on the other end of the platform, after we filled up on some hot tea at the station. We started walking on a tar road that goes towards Neral (the next station). Now a motor road from Neral goes right up to Dasturi Naka, after which you have to walk 20 mins till you reach the Matheran Market. We wanted to go offroad, so after asking some local villagers, we started towards a village called Bekra. As soon as we climbed a small ridge we saw a gentle stream that we had to cut across. In went everybody and it was not long before a water-fight erupted, leaving everyone drenched.
After cutting across paddy fields for around 20 mins we reached Bekra. We got several conflicting answers about the route to Garbett. We could not make out whether the villagers were referring to Garbett Point which is at Matheran or Garbett Plateau which is at a lower altitude. So, going roughly in the direction we thought was OK we followed a trail to the left , which quickly became steep enough. We reached a small grassy ridge which widened across ahead. To our left was a magnificent waterfall. Then followed the mandatory photo sessions with people outdoing each other in their modelling poses.

Travelling further on the scenery became even more breathtaking and the colours more vivid. Green dominated the landscape for as far we could see. It was as if a carpet had been laid out to welcome us visitors. The route gradually ascended higher up the hill and the views became even more captivating. It was harder to resist turning around and staring at the panorama behind us.

We had been climbing for more than 2 hours. The pace dipped a lot on this trek, because there was a bigger group than usual, with around 23 trekkers. We halted and out came lunch, which provided a much needed break, and fuel for the body. Exotic combinations like boiled eggs and pickle were gulped down without complaints. Table manners were done away with and hungry hands clamoured for more. With renewed vigour we again started upwards. The route became steeper and more rocky as we ascended. Part of the group who had gone ahead at this point went astray and turned right towards a trail which went towards directly towards Dasturi Naka. They had a lead of around 20 mins and finally when the trekkers at the rear correctly took the correct trail to the left, the leaders were spotted far below in the distance. With loud calls they were called back. From that fork the Matheran plateau is not more than half an hour away. It was not much time before everyone regrouped at the top.

It was then that we realised our blunder. We were right on the dirt trails of Matheran and we saw other human traffic going past us. After asking someone we realised that Garbett Point was not more than 10 mins away to the left. We scrambled over a portion of the trail which had seen a recent landslide and made our way to the Point. What followed was the best part of the trek. We could see the Point as we approached. A tongue of land jutting out narrowly from the plateau. Whipped by winds so strong that you actually felt like someone was pushing you over. Rain which came in horizontally and stung your skin. And waterfalls in the distance that played a game of hide and seek, with the clouds that billowed and buffetted across for one moment and cleared away in the next.

We had a good look at the Garbett Plateau - the route that we were supposed to come up from and had a hearty laugh. It did not matter for we had enough fun anyway. After enough exposure to the elements we turned back and started off on the trail towards the Market. From Garbett Point the Market is around 45 mins away. The trail took us through the thick greenery which Matheran is famous for.

Some trivia which might be of interest to you. Matheran was a hill station developed by the British. One of the British Collectors was walking near the base of this hill and he asked a villager what was the place above. The villager said "mathe raan aahe" meaning literally "there is a forest at the head of the hill". This was how it got its name.

We finally reached the Market and had grub. Omelets and pav and steaming hot chai were downed with gusto. The stall owner had a hard time refilling our plates that day. Few words were exchanged as we got busy with food. We didn't have time that day to roam around all the points in Matheran so we started walking back on the narrow gauge tracks towards Dasturi Naka. Matheran is one of the few hill stations that had a toy train with a steam engine. But after the 26 July 2005 torrential rains and ensuing landslides, the train has stopped running as portions of the track are suspended in the air, even today.

The taxi trip from Dasturi Naka to Neral cost Rs. 50 and the drivers skillfully negotiated the steep hairpin bends and brought us back to Neral Station. From here it was departure for the Pune and Mumbai junta as we both headed in opposite directions. Back to the concrete jungle!

Reference:
Timetable: Karjat local, Kasara local
(For travelling from Mumbai to Neral/Bhivpuri)

Timetable: Pune-Mumbai or Mumbai Pune
(Click on Trains between Imp. Stations)

Kamshet Bike Trip

2006-07-15T02:50:00.000+05:30

This blog entry comes in after quite some time. My new workplace is not too liberal with net access, explaining the delay.

2 weeks back, I went to a place called Kamshet, which is around 15 kms before Lonavala when you approach it from Pune. I had an opportunity to take my new bike out for the first long ride.

The destination was a quaint place 12 kms off the NH-4 (old Mumbai-Pune highway) near Vadivali Lake, Kamshet. I had gone to meet a very interesting acquaintance who has set up his farmhouse on a huge plot quite close to the lake. With promises of misty hills, lush greenery and rains I was already enthusiastic as I set off. I had packed my bag with water, some rainwear (which I didn't hope to use) and some sausages which were to be delivered to my host for the day at Kamshet (they have severe load shedding which means that stored meat often goes bad).

Since the bike run-in of 2000 kms hadn't been completed I couldn't raise the speed too much. This meant that the 60 km trip to Kamshet was going to take more time than usual. At first this irked me, but as I started off from Aundh, Pune I wondered what the hurry was all about anyway? I had plenty of time to kill.

First, I entered Khadki and hit the NH-4. This stretch of the NH-4 till Pimpri-Chinchwad has a fair amount of traffic and the ubiquitous junctions with the red signals (Murphy's law at it again). But once I cleared this stretch it was smooth sailing all the way. The NH-4 used to be in pretty bad shape a few years back but this time was a pleasant surprise. There just were smooth tar roads with no signs of potholes.

There was little traffic in the morning. The azure skies above raised my spirit. There were hints of dark clouds gathering but it never rained more than a slight drizzle for most of the way. Periodically sunlight would burst through and leave me enthralled. I had read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" and had always wondered what kind of an experience it must be to ride for miles and miles and take in the elements. I got close to my own Zen experience! I hardly had to bother about changing gear or braking. With minimal intervention, I soon succumbed to the hypnotic beat of the engine and entered a different state of mind. If someone would have seen me it would surely have been a funny sight. Here I was grinning ear to ear, for no apparent reason on my bike and chugging away peacefully at a speed of not more than 50 kmph. And I swear it felt blissful. There was nothing on my mind except pure, unadulterated, enjoyment. For those who haven't experienced this, it might feel like an over-glorified account. My suggestion would be simply to try it out for yourself!!!

After an hour and fifteen minutes, I reached Kamshet junction. There's a famous landmark. Ask anybody for Hotel Rangoli. From here, I turned right and went towards Vadivali Lake. This final 10 km stretch has got bad roads and it was a test in patience. There were sugarcane plantations on either side. I also saw farmers wading in calf deep water and planting paddy in their fields. I stopped by to take a look at a way of life quite different from what we normally see. People were actually doing hard, physical work, using their body like the way it is meant to be. Made me ponder - all the backaches and sprains that we complain about are a function of the laziness we are getting used to in our sedentary lives.

After around half an hour I reached up a slope (for landmarks ask for Raikar Farm) and then the Vadivali lake came into view. It was a beautiful sight that left me spellbound. Again stopped for the umpteenth time to soak it in. By now I'd got used to leaving the bike in neutral on the stand and getting off, instead of stopping it and starting it up again.

The greenery was overpowering. Towards the far side of the hillock which overlooks the lake there was one of the most wonderful sights I have ever seen. I visited a friend of my host. Was it a house with a view?? A panoramic visual of an unbroken hill running across an arc in the distance. There were easily more than 15 waterfalls gushing down at various points, each emerging somewhere from the clouded hilltop.

I had a nice day in these pleasant environs with my host who showed me around the place. In the afternoon I had a simple lunch of pulses and chapati. Mazaa kuch aur hi tha! Spent the rest of the day discussing some plans he has in mind for developing the place. We had long walks around the area. Then around 4:30 I departed for Aundh. Overall it was an awesome day, one I will remember for a long time!

Statutory warning: Long bike rides to places like Kamshet are highly addictive and are recommended for better physical and mental wellbeing :-)

What are you waiting for? Go hit the road!

Lohagad, Visapur Trek in the Monsoon

2006-06-10T19:42:00.000+05:30

This is the second time I went to Lohagad in a span of not more than 5 months. The last time I went we covered Lohagad only. This time we made sure that we covered Visapur too.

I won't blabber on too much about how to go there, etc. For that refer the link above. This is just to share some of the photos that I could get this time. I recently purchased a Sony WSC-D50 digital camera and I should say that its a nifty model. Quite compact, nice features, especially the various modes and photos which come out great.

Until now whenever I've been going out to treks I have been at the mercy of other people who carry their camera. I don't mean to be dramatic, but at the end of the day when I look at the past photos, I see that there aren't too many pics of the place we went to itself. Agreed that if pics were only taken of the place without any of your fellow trekkers in the foreground it would be the most boring thing to do. But there should be a balance.

So here are some of the better photos that I managed to capture. The initial pictures are from atop Visapur which has comparatively lesser construction and simpler architecture as compared to Lohagad.

Visapur fort (as seen when approaching it from Malavli)

Visapur fort wall (west side)
Stairway to heaven?

Visapur - Hanuman Idol
Visapur - Fort walls on the Malavli side
Lohagad - Ganesh Darwaza

Lohagad - really impressive fortifications

Lohagad - One more Darwaza
Lohagad - Strange hole in the rock (btw, thats a person up there)

Go ahead and plan this trek in the monsoons. Its one where you really get to see the grandeur of the place. Most forts in the Sahyadris are lying in a bad shape. Lohagad and Visapur still hold strong and give you a vivid glimpse into history!

God and heights

2006-05-20T12:22:00.000+05:30

I am an avid trekker and on many of my treks I have noticed a pattern. So very often, why are there famous temples at the peaks of hills and mountains? Devotess throng these places by the hundreds. Think Tirupati, Badrinath, Tungnath, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar or Vaishnodevi, to name a few across India.

I've got a really wacky theory about why temples were constructed only at the peaks. Why never at the base? The really beautiful ones are reached only after a tiring struggle. I am not religious so I am never overcome by strong feelings of devotion and faith as some people experience.

I think it has something do with very smart application of some common facts.

Think how you feel after a nice round of cycling, swimming or when you are back from a jog. Feel-good factor reigns high, right? Well, today, science shows that endorphins are (a type of chemical) released into your bloodstream when you indulge in vigorous physical activity. These are responsible for that high/kick that you experience.

Given this context, what better place to build a temple than at the top of a hill? The devotee huffs and puffs his way up, straining every muscle to reach elevation and seek happiness and release (side-effects of believing in God). Nature is already helping out halfway in achieving a very conducive state of mind. The other half is the devotee's faith kicking in and delivering a knockout punch!

Might seem really blasphemous and outrageous, but I feel its an angle worth exploring!

Feel free with your comments, I really am interested in some discussion on this.

Thank you for the music

2006-05-06T11:32:00.000+05:30

Music makes me smile, laugh, sing along, cry, sink, soar, all pumped up, melancholic, ecstatic, and other myriad emotions that really just have to be felt to be known.

Some of the best moments that I've felt ....

Lying on my back in front of the hostel mess, looking up at the starry sky, listening to "Echoes" by Pink Floyd (the 23 minute version) and slipping away into the soundscape.

Dim lights in the room and listening to Ghulam Ali ghazals, with his mastery over voice modulation, and that hint of playful mischief when he stretches the timing of his smooth voice over an extra bar. I almost see him smiling through on some of his classics like "Hungama kyon hai barpa" though I have never seen him live to have memories of the same.

Being part of the crowd at Independence Rock/Mood Indigo and headbanging away to some classic heavy metal without worrying at all about the headache that I would be having for the next two days.

Alanis Morissette's angst-ridden lyrics and unconventional singing, Kishore Kumar's voice crooning out those golden melodies, Hemant Kumar's soulful numbers where his voice quivers and brings on those goosebumps, Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) when he bites on his angry lyrics and riffs away on some really complex rhythm pieces, Hetfield's (Metallica) deep baritone on Nothing Else Matters, Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey when they soar away to the upper reaches of singing limits, stay there and deliver a lungful, Mark Knopfler's staccato song delivery and beautiful finger-picking, Pantera's complex structures, throaty growls and blazing, killer leads, grand Western Classical pieces, Joe Satriani when he creates path-breaking music on his guitar that most just hope to learn in a lifetime, Bob Marley's reggae which almost makes you start hopping on your feet and sway along, 80's pop with its wonderful tunes, Karen Carpenter with her poignant lyrics and emotion-laden voice, the crazy antics of The Doors, Nirvana's radical chord progressions, Eddie Vedder's (Pearl Jam) unique singing style, Slash's leads that cut through and countless other gurus!!

Music takes me places far away. Immersed completely, I don't need any other "influences" to get high as can be.

Thank you for the music!

All roads lead to Pune

2006-05-06T01:13:00.000+05:30

Just moved into Pune for my new job. Been here before in an earlier job 3 years back. And it does seem very inviting all over again.

Travel to workplace is 20 mins now.
I don't travel in a mode of transport which probably resembles a sardine can a.k.a. Mumbai trains.
I can actually take a bike at sustained 70+ speeds on the roads here.
Less crowded
Tranquil surroundings
Might not be applicable to all, but the no. of places accessible for trekking in the Sahyadris shoots up drastically

It has its share of problems like an utter lack of public transport, lesser developed infrastructure and power cuts. Despite all this, its a package thats packs quite a punch as compared to Mumbai.

It might sound something like those Incredible India advertisements. But do try it. You'll fall in love with it.

Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind

2006-04-23T14:24:00.000+05:30

For those who have not seen the movie yet, do see it. I've been recommending this movie to friends around for some time now. It got released in India only recently, even though it was released last year in the US. Probably because it's a bit quirky and not exactly a popcorn entertainer. This movie is for those who like their dose of entertainment with the thinking cap on.

It's a blend of themes on sci-fi (without going into technology and gizmos) and relationships. This movie deals with the question of what a relationship is, the subtleties, the chemistry, and most importantly memories. Jim Carrey has played one of his best roles till date, understated, reserved, and somewhat introverted. Kate Winslet essays a hyper-energetic and impulsive person.

Would you be interested in erasing memories associated with an ex-partner? Well, the characters Joel and Clementine played by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet choose so. And this movie delves into the question of whether something like this is the solution to a relationship gone bad.

One particularly strong and memorable scene to watch out for is one where they have the following conversation (I won't divulge the background to this, lest I give the plot away)

Clementine: "I'm not a concept. I'm just a f***ed-up girl who's looking for her own piece of mind. I'm not perfect"

Joel: "I don't see anything I don't like about you."

Clementine: "But you will, you will. And I'll get bored with you and feel trapped, because that's what happens with me."

Joel: After a long pause. "OK"

This is one of the best scenes which will stay etched in your memory for a long time. A masterpiece.

Go watch it!

What's going on?

2006-04-14T11:28:00.000+05:30

I'm mighty pissed!

Yesterday, I heard about a close friend who's been forced to get engaged to a guy chosen by her parents. Now, she was already going around with another guy (who's also a friend of mine) for more than 5 years. They both tried to make her parents see sense, but to no avail.

Things like "In our community, we will face so many questions", "He is from a different community", "If you marry an outsider, it will be a problem for your younger sisters and cousins" and other assorted inanities. I fail to understand this narrow, myopic thinking which is regressive to say the least. She has been placed under so much emotional pressure that she finally has acceded to their demand, that she marry a person from their community.

In all of this, there is no consideration towards the relationship she has already. Is it some kind of magic wand that they are going to wave across her face and make her forget the past? I'm sure she will carry snapshots of earlier times in her head. How does she reconcile them to a now repressed reality?

And one more thing in this sorry state of affairs is the role of the mother. Her mother is completely deferential towards what the father's views are. She is unable to put in a word which goes otherwise. The strange thing is that I've seen it in more unfortunate cases too. In a way the mother completes the cycle. Most probably, she never had a say in getting married to a stranger. And the brainwashing she has gone through, right from her childhood to the day she sees her daughter getting married, has made her so weak, that she hardly can put her foot down. So, even if she feels for her daughter, through her silence, she perpetuates this practice.

As for my friend, I don't know what I can say to her. Consolation has no meaning when I know what the truth behind it all is. I've heard her problems out for the last few years. To see this scenario unfolding, is sad and frustrating to say the least.

So I wake in the morning and I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
What's goin'on
- 4 Non Blondes

What's in a hybrid surname?

2006-04-12T16:30:00.000+05:30

Genderbenders

First, do read the blog piece and comments on the link above to make sense of my writing. Well, I could'nt agree more with what Nikita says on her blog about the female surname as an instrument to push old sexist concepts. Nonetheless, I take off from where some of the comments end.

Disclaimer: No offence intended to potential namesakes.

Assume that you have the first generation of kids with hybrid surnames. What do you do when they marry? What would their kids names be? I illustrate with an example.

First generation couple, each of whose parents were progressive and gave them hybrid surnames - Mr. Rahul Aggrawal-Singh and Ms. Sonia Lobo-Raut. They now have a daughter called Avantika. What surname do they give her?

Avantika Aggrawal-Singh-Lobo-Raut???

I'm not harbouring any sexist ideas myself, while writing this. I don't have the right solution, but there's a bit of a problem here with hybrid surnames :-)

Nakhind trek

2006-04-05T15:35:00.000+05:30

Date: 12 Mar 2006

There were six of us that day. We took a Karjat local train from Dadar station at 6:02 PM. The journey to Vangani on the Karjat line takes around 1 1/2 hours, as the trains in the early morning are slow trains. So we patiently sat and saw each station on the way, wishing that things would go a bit faster. But the flipside is that we also get to soak in the sights. Once you pass Mumbra station, you see less and less of the hideous concrete jungle. On either side you will see oodles of greenery and open spaces. When you look out of the train on the western side , you see the hill range that starts from Kalyan and goes all the way till Matheran. On this range you have Haji Malang, Tavli, Navra-Navri (meaning husband-wife in Marathi, named after twin peaks), Mhasmal, Chanderi, Nakhind, Peb and finally Matheran.

We shared some piping hot wada-pavs and spicy lasun chutney. A very tempting combination especially in the morning, when you have clean, cold air blowing in on your face! This did help to drive the sleep away. Then as usual, we started off with some crazy banter. Time passed quickly and we reached Vangani station. Had a quick chai, purchased some snacks and started enquiring with the railway canteen guy about the way to Nakhind. He did'nt have a clue so we went to the station master who was quite helpful and guided us. We next crossed the tracks and got out from the West side. We entered the village and walked towards the main road which is 10 minutes away from the station. On the way, we spotted a shop selling sugarcane juice. We downed a glass each and continued with greater vigour.

Normally, when you are in the city we tend to be more careful about hygiene. On treks, I've seen that you forget all the niceties and rules. I've drunk water from streams and eaten food with flecks of dirt, leaves, etc. with grimy hands. When you are stripped down to the bare necessities and sometimes even when they are out, its actually about meeting that immediate growl in your stomach. The most interesting part is that I've never come down with any illness ever. I've stopped worrying long back. I guess we underestimate the robustness of our systems. Treks sure make you realise this. In light of this, a glass of sugarcane juice was a sterile health drink and we sure did'nt waste it!

We must have started off around 8:30 in the morning. After crossing the main road we walked down a tar road which leads to the first village on the way. When we stood at the end of the tar road, we got a clear sight of Nakhind before us.

A small trail goes straight ahead and leads towards the left from the village. It soon become a steep climb on a dirt track. The banter took a back seat as people fell short of breath. Soon, we reached the top of the small hill (seen in the foreground in the above photo, with the prominent tree at the centre). We took a breather here. We encountered a villager with a herd of goats and verified that we were on the right track. He told us that it would be around an hour's walk. From past experience, I've seen that you can safely multiply the time quoted by villagers by one and half times. They are fit and have tremendous stamina. You will frequently see old men and ladies with loads of 10-15 kg going steadily and effortlessly on the slopes. Definitely puts things into perspective... You realise the inertia present in our comfortable urban lives.

In some more time, we reached the next village which is midway up the route. From this point onwards the track got rougher as we soon had to make our way through very thick vegetation. There were long dried out stalks that we had to hack our way through. We also faced thorny bushes that left you with a stinging pain. They poked through cargoes and thick shorts. Those who were without a full tracksuit or jeans had no option but to yelp out periodically and let out a string of abuses, which got quite hilarious after some time for the others. The route gently swerved to the right and went on becoming ever steeper. It was tough to get a grip at some points, but there was never any exposed portion where you could fall down. Just that you had to hold on to the narrow stems of the trees and haul yourself up.

After what seemed like an eternity we reached the ridge that leads to Nakhind. Suddenly we were standing on this narrow path that would not be more than 10-15 feet wide and saw the flanks of the hill descending steeply below.

The massive peaks of Chanderi and Mhasmal also greeted us. It was simply a breathtaking sight and you cannot help but stare transfixed at these wonders.

(Chanderi-left, Mhasmal-right)

We went further towards the northern end of the ridge which is a massive rocky outcrop. It also afforded some much needed shade. We reached this point in around 2 1/2 hours from the time we started off from the main road. We rested here for around 45 minutes. Out came the packets of snacks and our hunger ensured that nothing went waste.

We next went to the famous "hole" which is actually a peculiar geological formation. The outcrop is made up of huge rocks which seem to have fractured. Its led to a huge gaping hole that looks as if it has been punched right through. On one side you can see Vangani where you came from. The other facing west gives you wonderful views of Panvel lake to the left and the ever present Chanderi and Mhasmal.

We didnt spend more time on Nakhind. Once were done seeing the 'nedhe' we made our way back down the ridge. Now there was greater enthusiasm as it was not going to be as tiring as the way up. But we had not anticipated the slope of the route going down. It was steep when we came up and naturally while going down, it gave ample opportunities for "butt-trekking" as we call it, the cardinal rule being, "When in doubt, butt-trek". Just sit and go down like you would on a slide. Its the safest way down, though not the most graceful.

By the time we reached the second village, our arms were full of bruises due to the innumerable thorns on the way that we brushed against. The remaining journey towards the first village was leisurely as it was just a dirt track. Once again the banter and crazy jokes increased in frequency as things got easier.

We soon were back at the sugarcane juice seller. We downed 3-4 glasses of this health drink and reached Vangani station. Took a train back to re-enter the concrete jungle....

References:

Railway timetable for Karjat/Kasara local trains from Mumbai

Arnala fort trip

2006-04-03T22:20:00.000+05:30

Many people will be surprised to know that there are so many places off the beaten track, around Bombay. And the best part is that its possible to a day trip with ease and be back home comfortably by night.

Went to a place called Arnala some time back. Arnala is a fishing village which is 8-10 kms away from Virar station, on the Western Railway line. Go towards the S.T. bus depot. which is 5 minutes away from the station, on the West side. Take a S.T. bus going to Arnala.

Once you hit Arnala beach you turn towards the right side where you see the fishing boats in the distance. You have to walk carefully in this area as this is also used as an open-air loo by the villagers there. But this landmine-laden area soon passes and you reach the ferry. There's a ferry which takes you across to the island. Be sure to time your arrival because the ferries are at hourly intervals or even more. There is one at 12 noon which is quite convenient if you are planning a trip. Things get interesting when it halts around 15-20 feet away from the shore and you have to wade into the thigh-high water. Clamber up the ladder and you are into the boat along with baskets of fish for company.The 10-15 minute ferry ride is fun with the sun shining strong and salty winds blowing around.

The scene is repeated as you get down. Wade again and reach the sands. You are greeted by the sight of fish and nothing but fish all around. Some freshly caught, some hung out to dry on the bamboo contraptions, others discarded after sorting. There are simply so many that even the crows going around seem bored with this plentiful source. As we learnt, the residents of Arnala village transport their daily catch of myriad varieties of fish, squid and prawns to the mainland for sale. Everyone we saw that day was so busy and engrossed in his/her work. Weatherbeaten fishermen coming in with their catch and tending to the boats, while the fisherwomen were more involved in the sorting and cleaning of the seafood itself.

A 5-10 minute walk through the village takes you to the fort entrance. The fort walls are in a fairly good condition even today. Once you enter the fort to the right, there are stairs which take you up on the fort wall itself. There is a 8-10 feet wide route all along the fort wall. The best part about this island is that its so small that you see the sea up close from wherever you are standing on the fort wall. Certain areas remind you of the scene from "Dil Chahta Hai"where the three characters are sitting on a wall, looking out into the sea and contemplating what lies ahead. At periodic intervals there are protruding watch-towers (called 'buruj' in Marathi), where gunners in an era gone by, stood guard.

The inside of the fort houses a small temple. There was a huge polygonal well in which you can see turtles bobbing up and down at the water line. Small children having a field day indulging in simple pastimes. Breaking raw mangoes off the many trees that line the inner boundary of the fort. If you just stand still, you suddenly realise that this is so different from the hustle-bustle of our daily lives. Time crawls. And you let yourself slow down too.

Once you come out of the fort, the sands are quite tempting. On the western side, opposite to where you land on the island, there is a narrow strip of dark brown sand. Its the closest to a virgin beach that I've seen anywhere near Mumbai. Gaze out into the azure expanse in front of you and soak up the sun. Its very easy to slip into a philosophical groove when you are here. You can have a leisurely walk around the island to go back to the ferry. On the southern side of the island there are farms where the villagers grow their vegetables. There are a few dwellings on this side. Try requesting them for some fresh coconut water. We found the coconuts unlike any that we get in the city, with literally double the quantity of water inside. Not that you mind it....

Towards the southern tip of the island there is a very interesting watch-tower standing in quiet isolation. As you approach it you intuitively look for an entrance. But even when you are done going round it it will leave you puzzled because there simply is not any entrance. There is a small opening at the base though which goes 4 feet in and then there is a circular passageway through which one would need to crawl to go ahead. According to the locals, there are cannonballs stored inside. But we were warned not to go inside for fear of snakes which have made this their residence. Halfway up there are a few openings in. Apparently the only way up, is to use the creepers of a tree that has caught root on the crevices between the huge rocks that make up the watch-tower.

Once you are done seeing this come back to the point where you landed and patiently wait for the ferry which shuttles between the island and Arnala beach on the mainland. The last ferry of the island leaves around 6:30 PM so make sure to come back in time. Again up the ladder and into the boat. This time you will be used to the fisherwomen with their dripping baskets loaded with fish. Touch the beach again and off on to terra firma.

Further reference:
http://www.geocities.com/unitedit/places/Arnala/Arnala_fort.htm

Load-shedding in Mumbai

2006-03-05T22:16:00.000+05:30

Recently Mumbaikars would have read about the power crisis in Maharashtra and how finally it may start affecting the situation in Mumbai. Until now, Mumbai has enjoyed an insulated existence. Even in the extended suburbs of Mumbai there's load shedding for a few hours everyday. Once you go further away the situation is quite bad. There are industrial estates run by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), where units have turned sick solely because of the lack of sufficient power supply. No unit can run on a diesel generator forever. Operating costs will hit the company so badly that it will not be too soon before the owner decides to shut down. In small towns and villages there are scheduled power cuts. Take it or leave it. That's the way you will get electricity supply.

Set me thinking. Why is it that Mumbai should get preferential treatment? Are the lives of people any more important than the lives of people living out of Mumbai?

Recently I read a book called "Ecology and Equity" which talks about the "Use and Abuse of Nature in Contemporary India" (as the title page says). It was an illuminating book with deep insights into how systematically ecology has been damaged in India with short-sighted policies and apathy. It talked quite harshly about people living in urban agglomerations as "omnivores". In the book's context it was a metaphor for unlimited consumption. It describes how power projects are set up with utter disregard for the local people and the environment. Rehabiliation packages are promised, but they fail to be implemented. Sensitive local eco-systems are pushed into jeopardy. And who is this power for? The vast urban spreads, that are like cancer, always thirsty for more, eventually destroying the host body.

Specifically, the book talks about the case of the Koyna hydroelectric power project. It describes how the project was envisaged to meet the growing requirements of cities in Western Maharashtra. But the irony of it was that the villages in proximity to the Koyna dam were languishing in the dark, without the same comforts, that a steady supply of electricity afforded the cities. How does it feel to know that?

I say, bring on the load-shedding. Let the people of Mumbai learn to sweat it out a bit too. Time to get out of your cosy and sheltered existence.

No more should some be more equal than others.

The biggest cause of death

2006-03-04T14:31:00.000+05:30

Was reading about the recent furore over the Prophet cartoons published by the European media. It’s a crazy chain reaction with the debate that has started over the liberties enjoyed/not enjoyed under various governments, what creative license allows, the clash of civilizations hypothesis, riots, protests and the religious fervor that has been whipped up.

This reminded me about a very interesting take on religion put forth by one of my favourite comedians called George Carlin.

In one of his pieces called God, Carlin delivers this beauty (not verbatim, but as far as I recall right):

“God is the single largest cause of death in the history of civilization.”

Then he demonstrates how, with a mock conversation.

“Do you believe in God?”

“No”

“Bang”

“Do you believe in God?”

“Yes”

“Do you believe in my God?”

“No”

“Bang”

And then along with a vitriolic stream of expletives (which he peppers his pieces with usually), he does some more religion-bashing.

Think of it. It’s true.

The Hindu vs. Muslim fight has played out over centuries right till the recent Godhra riots. Christians and Muslims have been at each others throats for centuries. The Spanish Conquistadors quoted the Bible and exterminated the Inca population in South America. Countless other examples are testimony.

When will people realize?

Trek to Lohagad

2006-03-01T23:22:00.000+05:30

A bit late in posting this but here it goes anyway. I had gone to a fort called Lohagad in the last month with three friends of mine, Harman, Aditya and Abhay. I must say I've been trekking before, but this was eventful in many ways.

We were supposed to take a 11:40 PM train to Malavli station which is just after Lonavala on the Mumbai Pune line. I reached early at V.T. station around 10 PM to check up and buy tickets for all of us. I asked someone where tickets for this train were available. To my horror, I learnt from the person that the train was standing on the platform about to leave in hardly 15 mins. Then followed a hectic sequence of back and forth calls to my friends. They had'nt left their homes as there was an hour left (as per the earlier plan at least). We finally decided to meet at Dadar station and hire a vehicle (bus, Sumo or Indica) going to Lonavala somehow.

My friends started arriving at times which reflected various degrees of Indian Standard Time (pun intended). Finally we booked an Indica for Malavli and were off on our way. The journey was quite pleasant with a nice breeze blowing in from the windows. Every time you go on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway you cannot help but admire the scenic beauty of it all. You see technology and elements fuse together as you go down this six-lane silver strip cutting through rock and rising above the Western Ghats.The interesting part followed when we reached Malavli. What we saw was a closed railway crossing. Here we were, four guys in a hired taxi waiting in front of the crossing ready to pay the driver, when suddenly, two policemen with lanterns were seen coming towards us. They ambled towards us cautiously, pointing their torches towards our faces and inspecting us. They took down our name, address, tel. no. Next, was a barrage of questions about why we were there at 2 AM in the night? We explained that we wanted to start off for Lohagad early in the morning and that’s why we’d reached late in the night. Out came the story of how this place was unsafe. "Just yesterday someone was murdered and his body was dumped on the tracks", "Two weeks back some people came in a car, killed the driver and ran off", were two of the stories that we heard from the policemen.

They ordered us to sit in one area on the platform with strict instructions not to move around at night. We were sufficiently spooked and unsettled enough, so we did as they said and promptly settled down. By now it was 2:30 AM and we were killing time and sleep with conversation which ranged from interesting to inane as the night progressed. Quite quickly we realized that the temperature was low enough and that except Abhay, the rest had not carried any warm clothing. Abhay retired to one seat and quickly dozed off.

Fortunately, Aditya had brought a light bed-sheet. It was the most comic sight with the three of us sitting on a bench, huddled together, and shivering uncontrollably, with the bed-sheet draped around us. This protection was not good enough for three people. To add to the problems, every now and then, someone would doze off, leaning down, pulling the sheet away. The passing trains thundered through, disturbing us even further. We must have managed to get a total of half an hour of sleep till the break of dawn. Around 6:30 AM we finally got up and decided that to start moving would be a better idea. At least some exertion would drive the cold away.

We first went to the Bhaje Caves, which date back to around 2000 BC. They are Buddhist in origin and the quaint dwellings and prayer halls have a haunting feeling. You imagine a time gone by when monks lived here, nestled in the hills in the solitude. The prayer halls with their immense rock-carved ‘stupas’ now have a dank air to them. There still exist some very beautiful and intricate sculptures and carvings on the walls of the dwellings. We spent some time soaking all the sights in.

From the Bhaje Caves we started off on our route to Lohagad. Some years the route to Lohagad, was a simple trail. I was surprised to see a “kutcha” road being constructed all the way towards the point between Lohagad and Visapur, which are twin forts. This reduced the fun of roughing it out for trekkers. The flipside is that this road will be of immense value to the population of Lohagad village, which is situated at the base of the fort.

It was a easy though steep climb of around 2-3 hours. We reached Lohagad village and went further up the massive steps leading to the fort entrance. An immense gate greets you and the ramparts of Lohagad fort come up in sight. This is one fort that still is in quite a good condition, as compared to the numerous other forts in the Sahyadris, which sadly lie in a decrepit condition. We spent a nice 2 hours walking around the fort. The fort gives you a commanding view from the top, for miles around. Pawna Lake was a shimmering electric blue. In the distance we could see Tung and Tikona forts. We went towards the rear of the hill. Here lies a very interesting natural formation. There is this enormous projection which stretches out for more than 500 metres. It is called the Vinchu Kata in Marathi (literally meaning Scorpion’s Sting). If you visualize the shape of the hill in its entirety, this colourful name suddenly strikes you as being quite apt indeed.

Then we descended from the fort to Lohagad village. Had a sumptuous meal of Pithla (a preparation made from Besan) and Bhakri (similar to a chapatti made of wheat, instead this is made of rice flour), which is quite a common dish in the interiors of Maharashtra. Even this simple preparation seemed like a king’s feast because we were ravenously hungry. We ate so much that we actually felt a bit groggy and no one was willing to start the descent towards Malavli immediately.

After a 15 min nap, we woke up and bade farewell to Lohagad. On the descent, naturally spirits were quite high as there was’nt any exertion at all. We reached down in not more than an hour. From Malavli, it was off to Mumbai. The routine train travel back to Mumbai is the most boring part of the trek. But no pain, no gain. Better than staying in the city and wasting a chance to be in the outdoors. All in all this was one trek, which I will never forget!

Train rage

2006-02-08T11:01:00.000+05:30

I go by train everyday from Dahisar to Churchgate. Those familiar with packed local trains, would already have seen the hordes of people who sit on the roof of the train. That there are so many deaths due to electrocution (If I recall right it's 18 kV DC) does'nt bother them the least. These groups are usually up to antics which are beyond the thin line separating bravado and foolishness. What with them ducking beneath the live electric line to go to the other side or hanging on the gutter with a foot tucked in above the window grill.

The place where this incident happened is a spot just before Andheri station. There is a row of slums on the East side of the track and there's a lame man who resides in one of those. He's usually seen in the morning with a group of people sitting in a small clearing outside their houses.

It so happened that the rooftop travellers been teasing and mocking this lame guy for some time, when the train usually halts at this spot due to a signal. It usually ended with both sides cursing each other and their female blood relations. Today for the first time, the lame guy came out with a stick in his hand and almost climbed up halfway towards the roof with clear intent to get revenge. When he could'nt manage he slithered down and before you know it, he picked up a huge stone and hurled it onto the people above. Then the entire group of people including ladies from the slums had come out and stones turned into missiles, endangering people in the compartment entrances below.

It was raw, animal vengeance. Set me thinking. What is the trigger for an intent to kill or maim brutally? Was this also due to class divide between the haves and the have-nots? Discontent surfacing and manifesting itself in violence? Or is it just a remnant of times long ago when fights for survival were the way forward. We pride ourselves for the fact that we are "human". Self-delusion?

Are you growing older too soon?

2006-01-16T16:11:00.000+05:30

When was the last time you went out
and danced in the first rain?
When was the last time you saw green grass
and ran through with reckless abandon?

When was the last time you stopped to notice
the sun rays filtering through the clouds?
When was the last time you tried to find
shapes in the stars above?

When was the last time you stopped
and felt the wind buffetting against your body?
When was the last time you laughed as heartily as could be,
But innocently?

Are you growing older too soon?

Prescription for Mumbai

2005-11-18T03:34:00.000+05:30

I've got a prescription for Mumbai and it's attendant woes.

Any Mumbaikar will tell you about the obscene real estate prices here. In economics we talk of demand-supply governing price equations. We also talk of "rational agents" who make decisions. Now, it beats me why there is so much demand anyway??

What does Mumbai offer at these atrocious prices??

Does it give me a better commuting experience??? Certainly not when I'm hanging half out of the train...

Lesser pollution?? We can certainly lay claim to record water and air pollution levels. Check out Andheri station for example. And the beaches here are more like gutters. You're more likely to catch a skin infection here, what will all the sewage flowing in to the waters here anyway. The Mithi river has become famous overnight post the July 26 2005 floods. "Mithi sewage canal" is more like it, in my opinion.

A big home?? Even if you shell out Rs. 50 lakh you relatively get a pittance compared to what you get in any other place like Pune, Hyderabad for example.

Then, people come up with lines like "The life in Mumbai is very exciting, you've got malls, multiplexes, discos, etc." I don't see anything different developing here, as compared to the vapid hyper-consumerism (I lay claim to this term, having coined it right here) present in the USA. Are you gonna go to the malls, multiplexes and discos everyday to get your dose of excitement. Given a regular job and the commute back, you hardly have the energy/guts to venture out again.

So much for rational agents.. here goes my prescription for setting things right.

1. 15-20 floods of the type that hit Mumbai on July 26, every monsoon. It will be boom time for all the news channels that have sprung up nowadays and also for the rafting operators who can now set up base here.
2. Random train delays for hours everyday
3. Longer traffic jams
4. Pollution levels high enough to choke
5. New disease outbreaks of the kind modern science can't treat (I'm sure some mutated microbes already have that in mind)

Then maybe some sense will dawn upon the Mumbaikar and we will see a reasonable scenario emerging out of all this. Something's gotta give in this arbit raj...

The eternal optimist!

Paragliding at Kamshet

2005-11-06T22:20:00.000+05:30

Went paragliding this weekend and have'nt got down on the ground yet (pun intended). At Rs. 1500 for a 15 minute drop it is expensive indeed, but every second is worth it!

You are standing on a rounded, grassy slope on a hill. Winds buffetting against you, eagles soaring high above and fields scattered in front of you. The instructor helps you put on the harness. Then he straps his harness on too. The rest of the team stands behind and ensure that the glider opens up properly.

There's a small pep talk and some basic instructions. The most exciting part comes next, when he says that you have to start running off the slope. Just go with the flow and before you know it, you are off the ground and up, up and away.
The initial feeling is that of a surreal calmness. It's hard to describe in words really. You have to experience it yourself. Once you get over this pleasant shock, you really start to appreciate the fact that you are actually flying. It seems too good to be true and it takes some time to quell this disbelief.
Once you are past this, you then soak up the senses. See like a bird would, for miles around. Feel the wind currents pushing and pulling against you. Then you realize what the elements actually are. A humbling experience where you simply surrender...

Well, there's never a free ride and before you know it 15 minutes are up and the instructor nimbly guides the glider back to the hill where you took off from. And no it does not feel good to be back on earth, you'll be begging for more! It's that addictive!

Independence Rock

2005-10-11T15:21:00.000+05:30

Time for some pet peeves

I-Rock for those who don't know, is one of the biggest rock shows in India. It is being held for the past 20 years and never was there such a shameful attack on it, than the one by the Mumbai Police Commissioner. And I say attack because throwing a spanner in the works by not granting permission to an event like this, is an attack and nothing more. Just because rock music does not conform to the music tastes of the majority? Why can't it be "To each one, his own"?

The Police Commissioner states that the organisers did not have the requisite police permissions for the ticketing and the event. If you go by Farhad Wadia's side, he was kept waiting outside the Commissioner's office for 6 hours after which he was told brusquely that permission could not be granted. Hollow reasons were spouted out, justifying why so..

For reading up on Wadia's open letter to fans, visit http://azatlan.blogspot.com/2005/09/wtf.html

When you finish it you will be bemused/enraged/shocked by the asinine comments of the Commissioner. It indeed is as stupid as it can get. Period.

Darwin's theory of evolution and Mumbai local trains

2005-10-08T14:13:00.000+05:30

I've got my pet extension to Darwin's theory of evolution. The context is Bombay's urban jungle and this is how it goes..

A man walks to railway platform. He sees the first train coming in and is taken aback when he sees the mad rush and the people already hanging out at wacky angles from the entrance, the window, the gutter that runs above the entrance, dammit, any thing that you can think of... And then he says, "I'm not gonna take this train.. I'd rather land up late at office than risk my life". The train slowly accelerates away and our character dutifully waits for the next train. And the story repeats itself.. In a state of exasperation he finally gets to go in the sixth train that came in the station. Result?? He reached office 1/2 an hour late. Boss gives him hell and admonishes him. Next day he decides he's gonna get in, he'll do whatever it takes it. But again, when he sees the crowd, he backs off. Late again.. and the story continues.. One day the boss tells him that this will not do, he's not going to be lenient this time and that he has to fire him, because he's simply late every day.

Without a steady job, what can this guy do?? Can't get married nor start a family.. Now is'nt that what Darwin was talking about.. Only the fittest get to pass their genes on to the next generation?? Well, Bombay sure ensures that it bloody works.. ;-)

On a lighter note, I get into a crowded Virar train at Dahisar at 8:30 in the morning.. For people who know, I have this question. Does it make me some kind of an alpha male?? I'm feeling lucky already about my future. I will survive :-)