Yesterday I got my first tattoo – a flying Pegasus, which was quite a painful experience but totally worth it. Some initial few days care is important, have to keep it moistened till it heals & apply ointment 3 times a day for next 5 days.
Three years back I have registered for Hyderabad 10K run, but was not able to go as I have to go to take interviews for my company the very same day. This year I had no plans, but few of friends asked if I was interested to join them for the run, more over my company was sponsoring the first 100 participant. I had never thought that I will run 10 km anytime in my life, but my Sikkim trek in October changed my view and perception of being fit. After coming back from the trek I made a habit of going for a jog at least 4 times a week.
Previous night of 10K I had a party at a friend’s place where (believe me) I didn’t took any drinks. Though there was lot of temptation, but I did not give up. Slept late that night but was still able to wake up on time (5 am). We reached the venue (start point) at around 6 am. There were thousands of people; I was surprised to see such a huge crowd. All companies has there booths, thought it was hard to find booth of my company. Found couple of colleagues who were also looking for our company’s booth. Anyway after looking around for 15 minutes we finally found it in one corner closer to the stage.
Many Tollywood stars came, I only knew of Venkatesh out of all of them as he had in past acted in few Hindi movies. Milind Soman flew from Mumbai to participate in the run. He was running for the cause and support of multi sclerosis.
The race started at around 7:05 am. I ran for first 3.5 kms, after which I walked for half a km and then again ran for next 3 kms. In between I met Milind, took a picture, and continued running. On almost every major crossing local bands were playing and encouraging the runners. The last 2 kms were the real measure of strength (for me ofcourse), as by that time I was dead tired.
I surprised myself with completing the race in record 1 hour 20 minutes. It was a new world record for me… 
Date: 30-09-09
Day start at 0300 hrs
0500 hrs – Wow! What a start for the trip. Its pouring cats & dogs today. Low visibility from my home to airport, thanks to express highway i reached on time.
Its 0530 hrs and I m on board on Indigo flight to Delhi. Both air hostess, Jaspreet & Manisha, are beautiful. This is a good start for the day!
1000 hrs – Boarded Kingfisher flight to Bagdogra. Sonia, the air hostess is good, she smiles.
1230 hrs – Reached Bagdogra. Maj. V is waiting. After collecting my baggage, we head to a restaurant for some fuel refill forthe body. Drank Dansburg beer. Danny Denzongpa owns the distillery. It is good, I think better than Budwiser.
1430 hrs – Starts our journey in army jeep to Binnaguri, WB. It’s been along time since I have traveled by road, over it the road is full of potholes in which I will sink.
1730 hrs – reached Binnaguri cantonment. Took some refreshments in the mess.
1830 hrs – V & I had a long discussion on life, friends, and other philosophies.
2030 hrs – Heading to mess for dinner.
2400 hrs – It was fun to meet all the officers at the mess. Eat & drunk a lot!
Have to go to firing range tomorrow…
It has been a long time since I last wrote on my blog… Not much is happening these days, except work, work & more work, and who ever I have met recently is too busy in office, and everyone blame it on recession. Actually it is an irony that people have lots of work during recession.
But recession is not my point today. Few months back, my wife said that she wanted to go on all-girls-holiday. I agreed to it provided I can go on an all-boys-holiday. She also agreed for the same. It’s a different story that her plan did not materialize. But I am going out on a 15 days long trip. Thanks to my wife, she agreed even when she is not going, but that gives her an option to go in future. Anyway, this is a much needed break, especially from office and maddening roads of Hyderabad. I am really excited about it.
My plan is to go to Delhi for couple of days, meet all old school friends and then head to Northeast part of India and stay with an old friend for 10 days. The most exciting part of this trip is going to be my visit to Northeast; my plan is the go to remote places and take less travelled roads, which of course will not be possible without the help of my dear friend… Much of the travel is by air, but Bagdogra is going to be the last port, beyond that all travel is by road, which I guess is going to be more fun.
So what are my preparations… Not much at this point, except that I want to be fit for trekking and long walks… got one bushnell binocular, which I think will be handy… need to buy one rucksack, too!!!
Few of my recent experiences:
Last week I was waiting on a traffic signal, where people usually don’t stop even if the light is red. An old man crossed in front of my car and stood beside. When the light turned green, I started moving at the same time an auto-rickshaw cut too close to the old man which resulted in the guy falling in front of my car. Luckily I was moving too slow. When they old man did not stood up for a minute, I got down from my car, only to find out that he had broken his leg. So as a responsible citizen & looking at his age, I took this guy to hospital, got him first aid and then took him home. His son requested me to drop him to a nearby hospital, for which I agreed. All health care and medical facilities were free for this guy there, as the hospital and his employer has the tie-up.
On reaching the hospital, there were his distant relatives waiting, not for the injured old man but for me. They wanted money. This pissed me off… Why should I pay the money, was my question. But who cares… you works in IT, drive a car, seems to be an outsider, then surely must be having trunks of money is the general belief.
I refused to pay the money, and approached the police. Spent whole evening at police station (PS), troubled many of my friends, and ruined mine & their day. An FIR was registered against me for negligence driving, under section 338 IPC. What a day!
If that was not enough, I had to get a bail next day from court, which was an experience in itself. The judge (magistrate) is treated like a God, of course he is, since my life at that moment depended on his decision to grant me bail or not… So the second day was ruined, too!!
Advocate charges fee for each time I meet him. Police asks for money for doing their job, and I get sleepless nights…
At the end, I only realized that even if I would have hit and ran that day, I could have avoided all this trouble. I m guilty of being a responsible citizen!
Being alone is so hard, no one can tell that better than me. I m in States for now almost 4 weeks, away from family and friend. I m living in Santa Barbara downtown and this place is full of restaurants and pubs. Evenings are great – lots of beautiful people around, it feel like love is in the air. So that’s all the more reason to hate being alone. I m missing my wife, which I always do when she is not around, but this time it’s different. Usually she is the one who is on the move, and I wait for her at home. This time there is a slight role reversal – she is at home and I am away.
The only good thing being away from her is that it constantly keeps reminding me how important she is in my life, and how difficult is life without her.
Hi, I try to see life through different glasses at different times. This blog is my day to day experiences with people, books, mysteries, myths, and above all my way of looking at life. It need not be right or wrong... it just my way...
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