So nEAr Yet sO fAr... A tALe of wRong rOUtes!!!!

I thought we made it this time and was waiting for a scream [outburst of joy & satisfaction] from d one who made it to the top of the hill first but that scream never came and was heart broken to hear "Wrong route!!!"..........

This weekend 7 of us thought of flagging our presence on top a hill called 'Ettina Bhuja [EB] [Shoulder of an ox]. It was a good idea to have a change from this polluted n ear deafening environment. EB is around 35Km far from a very famous [in and around karnataka] holy place called 'Dharmasthala' [Land of Lord Manjunatheshwara].

We left Bangalore at 11:15pm [KSRTC bus, Friday] headed Dharmasthala [DS]. We had no problems in getting tickets to this place even though we booked the tickets same day. We reached DS at 6:15AM the next day. Weather was not so cold but a jacket would be necessary [if not for DS, surely for EB].

None of had really been to Ettina Bhuja before. We had prepared ourselves by reading printouts of some blogs on EB by people who had been to this place. The route to the tip of EB was supposed to a easy trek according to some in our group. We carried two tents capable of accommodating 8 ppl, food for the night [MTR ready food], some vessels, Snacks, chocolates, bread-butter-jam [for lunch & breakfast], jackets, bedsheets, torches & salt for leeches.

Actual trek starts from a place called shishila. Its easy to find a bus or a jeep to this place from DS. We managed to get none of them though. We had our breakfast [@6:30] in a hotel in DS & headed to a place called Kukkhoda [18Km from DS and on the way to Shishila]. We reached Kukkhoda in no time and took a jeep to shishila [We had to pay Rs200 for the jeep ride]. We were all red & brown by the time we reached shishila [@8:15AM] as the road to shishila from Kukkhoda was under construction and it was all red soil throughout which is expected at this part of Karnataka.

Actual trek to EB would begin from a place which is around 7Km interior to Shishila. We could have taken the jeep till this place but since we were all enthusiatic & professionals [:-)] we decided to walk to this place and we didn't even took a guide. We started from Shishila at 8:20AM. What we thought would be the last house before we hit the trek trail was never the last house. We knew from the blogs that the trek trail starts after crossing last house. Each one of us carrying were carrying a backpack weighing minimum 4-5kilos [most of the weight was coz of 2lt water bottles that we were carrying] and in addition to this we carried tents in turns which weighed 5-6Kg each.

We knew that we would hit Kapila river where we had planned to take bath but this river never arrived soon. After a walk for 90minutes or so we came across Kapila river. All of us were relieved. At last, source of water & the beginning mark for the trek. We were on right track we knew as we reached the river as expected. We took bath here. River wasn't deep with water about waist height.

Filled out bottles and left the place after taking bath as soon as possible as we had planned to reach the top ASAP. After walking for an hour or so we came across a falls. Eve though there was no trail leading to the falls we managed to get to the bottom of the falls by making our way through and plants. We were there for 10-15 mins and were back onto trekking trail. Soon we found out that the trail wasn't a easy one as expected. The forest was thick with the land covered by dry leaves, small stones & loose rocks sometimes. Wearing shoes, jeans and full sleeves is advisable as we came across many thorny plants. I was wearing sandals for the trek like a dumbo and had to pluck 5 thorns outta my toes today.

It was 12:30PM now but we couldn't feel the heat as we were always under shade. Thanks to thick forest & long trees. This turned out to be our disadvantage as we never knew which direction we were headed. We just followed the trail. We hit a point where the trail ended & we were lost for the first time. After a discussion for few minutes about the possible place where we could have taken the wrong turn we trailed back for 10mins and took the other trail which we believed was the right one. 30 mins passed & guess what..... We were lost again. Rested for few minutes this time. The trek was getting more adventurous now. It was about 1:45PM now. I started feeling tired. It was more because of carrying weight I guess. Trail was not much tiring till now for few as they are regular trekkers. But for me, I was just waiting to see the plain land where we could unfold our tents.

We started our journey again. We hit a small stream this time where filled our bottles & continued. The trail got steeper & steeper which made all of us feel that 'we are almost there' but the steep never ended. At last, we could see the trail ending and a very steep land leading to open space. We started climbing. The path was slippery as there were many loose rocks and the weight on our shoulders made it more tougher to climb.

Few enthusiasts from the group reached the top. I thought we made it this time and was waiting for a scream [outburst of joy & satisfaction] from the one who made it to the top of the hill first but that scream never came and was heart broken to hear "Wrong route!!!". What was more devastating was that we could see that the hill [Ettina Bhuja] which we thought we conquered was standing right in front of us. Goddamnitt!!! we thought. We had climbed the hill opposite to what we were supposed to climb.

All of us sat there, heart broken. It was 2:45PM. All of us decided to have our lunch and then figure out the possible route to EB. We had bread butter-jam for lunch. It was already 3:30PM. Few of us went to explore the path to EB and after few minutes we were behind them continuing our quest to conquer EB [which was not so tough trek]. After a walk for 30mins, guess what.. We were lost. Everything was against us that day. Every effort to be on track went futile. It was already 4:30PM when we decided to head back to the "last house" and then back to Bangalore. Even though we never came down through the same route [most of it] which we climbed we reached the "last house" by 6PM. None of us had enery to walk 7Km to Shishila. More than energy none of us had enthu after a very disappointing walk throughout the day. We inquired about the jeep till DS from that house. Jeep was there by 6:30PM. We wished adieu to 'Bhuja' & headed DS. We thought it was over but nope.. Jeep broke down this time at about 14Km from DS. Luckily we managed to find a bus.

We reached DS, did 'Devara dharshana'. Had free dinner at temple & headed back to Bangalore. Reached Bangalore @ 6:30AM [Sunday].

Even though we couldn't reach the top of Ettina Bhuja or camp over there or put a camp fire or see the sunset from there or the sun rise in the morning the trek was a adventurous and memorable experience... It was fun

Swami NarayanaTemple, Toronto

Show OFF

Photography is one of my hobbies which I've developed recently [around 6 months... Following are some of my fav snaps which I've taken using my Olympus E-410 DSLR...

Charminar	Early morning in Hyderabad
Late Evening in Hyderabad	Lord Buddha in Hussain Sagar
Roger Waters' Concert	Mysore Palace gate
Mysore Palace	Palace in the eyes of an artist
Grand Canyon	Las Vegas
StigMa	sTigMA-2

What's iT foR U?

Just a new day or beggining of a new fresh year which u hope to be perfect?
day whn u take new resolutions? or it doesn't matter coz u won't remember d resolution u took whn u r outta hang-over in d morning?

is it a day where u build up ur hopes hopoing that u wud be a perct individual comin 1 yr, whr u wish evrythin goes accordin to ur wish, whr u wish u'll want to hav only desserts vthout many chillies?

is it just a day whn u can send msgs to anyone at any odd time widhing them a very happy new year n u cud still escape from the tantrums?

is it a day whn u can spend mindlessly on booze n party hopin dat new year wud bring u loads of fortune or partying as if that 'party place' wud close down dis night?

how or Y is it so special for u?

Its just another day dats gone n just another day dats gonna begin... all u need is an excuse to party, to socialize, to justify ur acts, to justify ur frndship ur realtionships, to hang out th frnds late night etc etc...

Oh yEAH... I enjoyed my last day of the year... Yes I've some new yr resolutions which I won't forget in the morning, yes I njoyed vth frnds it was fun.. But i know tomoro's just another day.. nothin so spl bout it or nothin bad either..

Am here....

I'm here after 2 years and 6 months. Its 3Am. Weather's pretty cold. e auto guy asked for 100 bucks.. don't remember how much we used to pay when we were here but it seems pretty less compared to what they ask for in Bangalore.. Nothin's changed over past 2 yrs.. Roads r same, perhaps they have gotten worse. Railway station's under renovation. There's power 24hrs here and Wi-Fi now in the hostel.. Yes, I'm in college now after a long time. Old memories gushing into my mind.

Bistupur road, Shyamda, Arvindji ka store, Sudha uncle ka Sudha, AD building, "Digital" library, downs hostel nothing has changed.. :-) Shyam-da has made a gud progress though with stores in downs.. brainy guy..


Bit boring though being here vthout batchmates. Missed u guys... Feels odd. But feels gud to be back in hostel, eatin mess fud, hearing to slangs in d corridors, loud music [tum tho tehre pardesi.. :-)]..

Gud to be back after two n half years....

nOt aNYmorE...

Never understood y ppl wasted so much time in it
Never thought its worth wasting time in it
but
u need to be in it to realize y ppl waste so much time in it..
It not like d time freezes whn u r in it
it just dat u won't realize d time..
used 2 laugh whn ppl said dat
but
not anymore...
it makes u go mad, drives u crazy, sleepless n wat not
thght all dat was bullshit b4
but
not anymore...
it kinda givs u confidence kinda boosts ur personality..
blah blah blah.. i thought it was
but
not anymore...
d enthu'll dampen over time, some1 said
Naah.. it won't
'll prove it wrong if I ever get a chance

Saint...

I hadn't heard about the process of 'canonization' until today when I saw on TV that sister Alphanso from India was to elevated to sainthood by the Pope. She had died in 1946 at the age of 36. This made me curious. I didn't know that it takes so many years before being raised to sainthood. First of all I didn't know what sainthood was. Believe me this still one of the shortest periods [1946-2008] where a person has been called as saint. It takes number of decades or even centuries to be proven that a person is a saint [in Roman Catholic culture].

A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed a high level of holiness and sanctity in an exemplary life of virtuous behaviour. A saint is therefore not simply a believer but one who has been transformed by virtue presents an example other human beings striving to conform their lives to God. In short saint's a mini/secondary god...

The concept of sainthood developed in the Christian tradition. However, there are parallel concepts in other religions that recognize certain individuals as having particular holiness.

In Roman Catholic tradition, a person who's seen as exceptionally holy can be declared as saint by a formal process called 'canonization'. This particular form of recognition formally allows the person so canonized to be listed in the official Litany of the saints during Mass. This process of canonization is a tedious process taking many years, even centuries. The first step in the process is detailed investigation about the person's [candidate for sainthood] life undertaken by an expert. Report's given to the bishop of the area ans further studying is done. It is then sent to congregation of causes of saints in Rome for approval. If its through then the candidate will be given the title 'venerable'. Further investigation may lead to beatification and the title 'blessed'. Now comes the toughest and interesting process. After beatification, at least a minimum of two miracles are to be formally declared for the candidate to be pronounced a saint. Miracles like curing of a disease or a curse or getting out of penurious condition or something/anything dats considered a miracle that would happened after praying the candidate. It has been claimed that these miracles are to verified scientifically. oh oh oh.... hold on now..

That which is scientifically proven can't be a miracle, can it be? Miracles are called miracles for the reason that they cannot be proved. Something that is scientifically proven is a fact. And it can be repeated. Suppose say I pray one of the sainthood candidates to cure my illness and it miraculously gets cured. This cure is to be scientifically proven before the candidate is conferred 'saint' title. Suppose say, its proved scientifically now. This means that this is repeatable, i.e. any one with the disease who prays the candidate will be cured.. Sounds nonsense? It does to me..

Its not one miracle that has to proved its minimum two that are to be proved before being given sainthood..

Since the 16th Century, when the modern saint-making process began, there have been approximately 300 saints declared. But Pope John Paul II has declared more saints in the 25 years of his papacy than all 264 popes before him combined. This's quite surprising. Did we have more humans with holy spirits in them in the last last century than any other previous centuries combined?

I don't want to comment or hurt anyone's sentiments about the process, but its not really scientific, its just blind faith, I would say. Billions of us believe it, I don't and won't unless its proved to me.. :-)