Str8 4m d NURV...

['I' in the following post not only applies to me i.e. Ajay but all those who feel that it talks about themselves]

Its not new for me to question myself every now and then about the number of hours I do nothing useful in a day. Every time I wonder I realise that most of my day goes useless. Time spent in traffic, tea time in office, lunch break, time spent in non sense talks, ogling at the idiot box [even though most of the time I don't realize what I watched] and sleeping dead for long hours are some of the activities that are not so useful and not necessary sometimes take up most part of the day. If time spent in these are summed up for the entire life I would live [assuming I would die @ 60] it would result in a staggering time-number. It will sum upto around 25years of my life span. It like 40% of my time is going useless [not that rest 60% goes very useful].

There are Lotta things around us that need immediate and most of our attention failing to do so might result in a bleak future.

For example: Indian politics. I talk about how bad our politics and politicians are, talk about the loop holes in the system, corruption happening, talk about slow progress, wrong policies by the govt. But what so funny is I just talk and talk and talk. And the worst part is I know that nothing's gonna change if I just sit here and criticize about all these and do nothing about it. Its like a 'Barking dog'. The bark will diffuse in thin air and the things move on as they were. Either I should quit criticizing and accept the reality or should do something to change the things. Sitting and blabbering/criticizing [just to convince people around me that I know something] won't do any good other than adding upto to the time I spend useless. I don't have a voter's ID and I never voted. So its very silly of me to blame a person who wins in a election and comes to power to do nothing but just eat up nation's resources. Either I should have voted against him or should have chose whom I believe would do something if not everything or should simply shut up and accept what follows an election.

I know for sure that I am in a better position to feed at least one hungry soul 2 days a week. But I never did it. I neither contributed to an orphanage or NGOs or any such funds that would help poor/poverty ridden/ downtrodden. Its so selfish of me. I justify my act saying that I don't trust these organisations and the donations I make would never reach the needy. Saying this I don't even help the needy directly. What a crackhead I am. I am surely not going to take anything with me when I turn into ash or decompose into the earth. I don't understand why is this crave for materialistic life. There's absolutely nothing wrong to have a desire of materialistic life but also there's nothing wrong in donating something after or during the process of achieving my materialistic life.

I am safe and I would not be there to witness the consequences of global warming so I need not worry is such a cheap' thought. Why should future face the consequences of my 'kriya karmas'? I need to realise this and should contribute the tiniest to reduce the global warming. Least I can do is to reduce the deo usage. I need not drive a 4-wheeler to office when I'm traveling alone. Car pooling is always a better option.

These are few of many things that need my attention and I spend 25 years of my life just doing nothing. Its so shameful. Worst part is I realise all these and still don't do anything about it. I shouldn't blame on things when I know that I can change those things [if I act] but I'm just lazy enough to do anything to change them.

THE Palace!!! Trek to Kalhattigiri falls.....

It was 3 weeks since we were in 'so near and yet so far' situation, again we were ready for another exciting, exhilarating and exhausting trek. This time our Jack Sparrow wanted to trek to Kemmangundi from BabaBudangiri [Both in 'Chicka'magalore district in Karnataka]. The route was unknown and captain wasn't even sure of the existance of the trail. We booked tickets [KSRTC- 'Volvo' this time:)] from Bangalore to Chickamangalore for Friday night. Journey lasted for around 300 minutes and we were in Chkmglre by 5AM on Saturday. There are no direct buses to Budangiri from anywhere I guess.. There's only one bus from Chkmgl to budangiri which leaves whenever the driver feels like placing his ass on the driver seat. The bus usually leaves around 7:30AM [if its full else god knows] and probably will make 2 trips in a day.

We had lotta time to kill before the bus moved but all of us wanted to reach budangiri ASAP so that we could avoid trekking in the heat of the noon. So we looked for alternatives like Jeeps or taxis. Budangiri is around 35 kms from Chkmglr [Road's gud but route's bit curvy and hilly]. It was too early to even find a Jeep. We had to wait till 6-6:30 AM. In the meanwhile Rikshaw guys offered us their service of dropping us in budangiri. They were kidding I guess. Imagine 4 people in a rickshaw traveling 35kms in the route which would take a jeep easily 90 minutes even when road's pretty decent. We would have had to push the rickshaw through 75% of the route. Then a Ambassador guy offered his service and we laughed @ his offer saying him that its was impossible for him to take all seven of us in that car. We thought it was just not possible. But, for our surprise the car could accommodate all of us. We had to shell out 600 bucks for the drop.

Trek Begins..

We reached Budangiri at 8:20AM. Weather didn't require us to wear any jacket or sweater or whatsoever. Even at that altitude & not too late in the morning it wasn't even near to cold. Good for us but it meant that noon will be hotter and would make our trek tiresome and we would get dehydrated sooner. It was a beautiful view from budangiri. We could see mountain ranges and clouds far below us. We felt like we were on top of the whatever... We started following the trail not exactly trail but a road till it ended. It was around 3km walk I guess. This walk ended with a lake [man made] & a small temple next to it. There was a pole and a huge grinding stone next to the temple smeared with red coloured fluid. We all guessed it to be blood of an animal which was offered to the god. People find some or the other reason to build a temple and kill animals. Actual road or trail ended here..

The place was all barren with patched of forest, that meant no shade!!! It was 9:30 when we left the lake & temple. Since we didn't want to lose out on time all of us decided no to take a dip in that lake which was dirty with mud. We were heading to the top of Kalhattigiri falls where we would camp for the night. The nearest landmark to this was a PALACE. Yes, you read it right 'A Palace'. It was king Ashoka's summer palace. It was a 7 floored palace with white marble finish [Thinking of Taj Mahal... Hold on to your imagination], huge fountain at the entrance & a beautiful multicolored chandelier. Ok, ok, will come back to palace later. We headed in the direction of the palace based on inputs from captain Jack and 2 other commanders in control of the mission as they were here at this place once before.

We walked for a km or two when we saw a trail. This trail would be harder to find if anyone visits during winter or rainy season as the land would be covered by pretty long grass. It was dry and was burnt when we were there this time. So it was relatively easier for us to figure out the trail. We walked for couple of hours before we could hit a stream. We rested for few minutes and had let some protein sneak into our stomach [Oat meal bars, high energy bars, protein supplements etc etc.. :)]. We started again and it was already around 12pm and few of us were hungry and were waiting to reach the palace and then the camping site so that we could call the trek off for the day.

Now back again on trail I was desperately waiting to have a look at this palace. We saw our trail turning right. 'After turning right we would see the palace' said someone who had been to this place already. We were relieved. We took the right curve and at last we saw it.. The PALACE.. There it was standing tall and strong with white marble finish & beautiful fountain.. Did you really believe when I said that? Non sense.. in a place like this where there's no proper trail you shouldn't expect a palace with chandelier... :) Even though it wasn't a palace as per my description we were very relieved to see something closer to civilzation after walking for 4-5 hours non-stop under scorching sun.. The biggest relief was that we were not lost we were on track to Kalhattigiri falls. Rested here for 10 mins and then it was an hour walk which deviated from the trail to the mouth of Kalhatti falls... All of us were tired and hungry and relieved. It was almost 2PM. None had energy to jump into the water but sit n sit n lay down.. Even though we were hungry the walk had left us lazy and tiresome and it took us 20-30 mins before we decide that we would have our lunch....

Continued in next post........