Blogging Blues

I have always considered blogging to be an personalised space akin to a home, but with no doors (unless it is a closed group blog). It’s a space, wherein the doors are always open and anyone and everyone is free to visit, chit-chat and leave. If they like the experience, they will pay a second visit and third and so on, building a relationship (comments)

Invitations are fine. Infact, invitations are must to strike a warm gettogether and spread the cheers of being together. Invite them to pay a visit to your home (spread links / tweet) and add value to the relation (comment).

But, do you claim you house to be the best one? Do you have the air-headedness to compete wih the rest of the homes in the space? You might be the owner (self-hosted) or stay in a rented space (.wordpress / .blogspot), but does that make your home good or bad?

Do you claim that you have the best interior design (template) and the best furnitures (widgets)?

Do you think that yours is a cut above the rest?

They why does Indiblogger / Mumbai Bloggers and all such competitions exisit? Why do people partake in such competitions and request others to vote for them to be the best?

Why do people visit neighbours (comment on other blogs) just for the sake of ‘earning’ their visits (comments)?

People say, blogging is a social thing. I disagree, blogging is a personal thing, decorating your own space wwith thoughts, opinions and taste. The moment you do things for others, the essence is lost.

Do you as your neighbours to choose furnitures for your drawing room?

Wake up!

The cycling connection

My earlier post on early review of Hercules Ryders ACT 105 Max still receives lot of hits from cycling enthusiasts and also has helped a lot of them (apparently evident from the comments & Bikeszone forum)

It’s is about time that the early review is updated and a brief on how it feels to be on the saddle and pedal longer more than 6 months down the line. I would write up one soon.

On and off the saddle …
A lot of greasy dust has been accumulated on the chain and gear cogs and cleaned already. Rains are not expected for the next 6-7 months and the redundant fiber mudguards are already gone.

Even after being on and off the pedal due to intermittent rains, niggling lateral knee ligament and climbing / trekking bias, cycling has been relatively closer and always there.

The real & the virtual connection…
A trip to Dombivali, a leisurely 30 mins, ring route rides after office actually connected me to the activity. Beside, the ever effervescent plans of a long ride, being a silent member at Bikeszone, cleaning my bike, plans of riding to work (its more than 44 kms one way) and other such things keeping me in sync virtually. Either way I feel good and feel connected to the sport and the fraternity.

Cycling is really the ‘in’ (*read the foot note) thing now and it delivers the feel-good thing with every pedal that I do. The feeling of cool breeze hitting me and evapourating the volatile sweat-drops on my arms & forehead gives a contentment that only I (or rather the cycling enthusiast) can understand and thrive upon.

Lets take a look if it is a personal thing or just one because of the mass wave.

The state of cycling across the country?
Realistically, it is improving. We are just shaken out of our coma and beginning to feel and take cognizance. As everything that happens around a nuclear focus, cycling as an activity is centred around a few cities in the country.

Lets state them in the descending order of their followers -

• Bengaluru
• Pune
• Mumbai
• Delhi

Ok. So these cities are seeing a rising trend of the phenomenon called as cycling. The city pedallers are gaining exposure to global standards and equipments. Brands like Merida, Trek, Bianchi, Canondale have made entry into the Indian market and the number of dealers are mushrooming as well.

Another aspect, the cycling tour organisers are also jumping in and joining the bandwagon by offering tailor-made trails for the enthusiasts. Bengaluru leading the way again (BOTS Blog – http://blog.bumsonthesaddle.com/2009/11/20/cyclo-tours-in-india)

Countryside India (an outdoor adventure club more into trekking activities) does a few cycling trips near Mumbai.

The knowledge quotient
Like in any other sport, one of a fellow Bikeszone member call us (the Indian’s) genetically fuc*** up! (in the sporting quotients), the knowledge about cycling is nothing to be excited about.

The knowledge of bicycles, associated injuries and prevention, health care, standards, equipment care, gear systems, doing routes and other cardinals that an individual must know as one takes up the sport.

Where can one find the information?
Google, Bikeszone, city groups, fellow cyclists.

How does cycling help?

• You stay fitter
• Good for your heart, body & soul
• Conserve petrol / diesel
• Reduce costs – Petroleum resources aren’t getting any cheaper
• Reduce carbon footprint / delay the inevitable – Global Warming
• Infuse enthusiasm into others to follow your suite
• Make a style statement (vague / baseless – still one can derive the joy)

When do I cycle?

• Anytime you feel like.
• Daily errands
• Commute to work (if you reside at a reasonable distance  from your office)
• A visit to a friend / relatives (in the same city)
• Hanging out
• And realistically anytime and anywhere ..

The brands, the cities, the trend, benefits, how, what, when and all that can be possibly connected to the cycling as an activity has been listed down, albeit in a apparently disconnected manner. But behold, just read in between the lines and you get the connection; the cycling connection.

Footnote* – What is this ‘in’ thing?
The thing that is harboured with’in’ our minds and hence it was always an ‘in’ thing for me. Just that the virulence took some time before the relapse. The time when I academically graduated from School boy to college guy and mentally graduated from a one amongst the crowd to a biker.

The brevity of the transient

What is the most perturbing point in the transient phases? The most concerning facts about the fickle minded?

Fear.
Fear of wastage of time, energy and money if the transience is just too brief to return anything if at all. When we invest in activity, we have a target to reach, a vision.

However, in transient activities, impermanence mars the course of the road. Blurs the target.

Why?
Because the fickle minded individual who had seen the goal and started off, is now too consumed in dealing with the pathway leading to the envisioned goal. The distractions in due course sets his visions off target and the motivation weans away.

The culprit?
The hidden course. The route. The pathway to the target.

The trap?
Target is always high. Above everything else. It is easy to see the target as it shines bright. Stands above everything else. Similar to a flag post waving atop a hill.

But, the course to it is all along hurdles. Mazes. Puzzles. Difficulties. And the flag post can reached only after negotiating the course.

Why do transient acts happen?
Because of failure to see the course. Blindly following the target. Wasting more time in thinking about the highs of reaching the target, without cognition of the course.

What to do?

• Set the target.
• Forget the target.
• Plan the route.
• Study the route.
• List down the impossibles.
• List down the cake walks.
• Interchange the impossibles with the cake walks.
• Re-strategize with the exchanged version.
• Keep it as a fall back plan.
• Get back to the original plan.
• Close this blog page and start working towards it.

Cheers !

Social Media Experts and their ‘defunct fundas’

Why do self-proclaimed experts always resort to using non-standard abbreviated versions of words that is more often than not a ‘gobbledygook’ to many? They tend to use part of words and put it to represent the entire concept and when the listener seems confused, then they disseminate all the ‘gyan’ they have. Looks like they are hooked to use Synecdoche!

Beside, these self-proclaimed expert also tend to be a bid rigid about the fundas they deliver. Some times they defend it by saying that all the big corps does it and resort to the best practices leeway. When the best practice is not applicable, they resort to innovative customizations to bolster their fundas. Don’t blindly follow is what they say.

And, when the executions don’t churn out the expected moolah they say that it is lack of internet penetration in the country. Still better, Social (Media) is not a ’substitute’ for marketing strategy. It is an adjunct to it. Getting Social is one aspect. There are others which are more cardinal then just getting social.

What they forget is that socializing as such is giving away or attending give aways.

• It is giving and taking.
• Give gyan. Take gyan.
• Attend complaints. Give solutions.
• Listen to grievances. Say sorry and rectify the errors.
• Be flexible. Be receptive. Be sporty to take criticism.
• Work on social to attend to the problems and try and solve them Not for ORM.

Why don’t they drop pretensions and just ‘Socialize’

And blogging is contagious

It really is if you get comments & responses and good stats!

And what if you don’t? It still can be contagious when you are passionate about writing. It doesn’t have to be information dissemination or gospel preaching. It simply has to be straight, terse, impacting and real. And these adjectives can only be associated if it is straight from the heart. If you feel about the things you write. If you know what you are writing. It has to be real and not ctrl + c and ctrl + v.

Also, beside the abovementioned preaching remember to -

• Read comments
• Reciprocate
• Accept mistakes & rectify those
• Visit the commentors blog and drop in comments.

Blogging is best enjoyed when you read and you are read. Isn’t it a social thing? Personal updates as blog content is passe and dead. If it has to be personal updates, Facebook & Twitter have taken over.

Have a good time

White-water rafting at Rishikesh – Dec 2009

Rishikesh, the white water rafting hub of India, with the turbulent waters of Ganga at Shivpuri beckons all Travelarkers. River rafting as a sport has reached new heights in these parts of the country and the thrill delivered under optimised safety protocols just makes it all the more worthwhile.

It is surely must be experienced by each and every adventure enthusiast.. and here we give them a chance and a reason to celebrate their adventure quotients with our ‘White water Rafting’ event at Rishikesh on the -

Christmas eve from 25 – 28 Dec ‘09
New years eve from – 29 Dec ‘09 to 1 Jan ‘10

Itinerary Ex-Delhi: 3 Nights / 3 Days package

For more details – please visit Travelarks Blog: Rishikesh Rafting Dec ‘09

Cheers ~~~

Climbing & cycling to a griding halt!

I am being troubled by a niggling knee for some time now. First it was the right one and now even the left one has become bothersome now. Reason?

Well, it could be anything from – climbing, running downhill with sudden jerks and heavy backpacks, cycling with high resistance and irregular cadence or anything… reasons aplenty, symptoms and niggles all the same -knees or ankles.

And, now I diagnose it as a ligament injury – sprain and laxity. Advised rest with ultrasound physiotherapy offering the treatment. So advised strictly against cycling, running, climbing or any other physical activity. No knee exercise as well. Just rest and physiotherapy.

Let me maintain my sanity till the knee regains its full fitness back.  Atleast, till the time I can begin with moderate knee strengthening exercises! Let the better senses prevail.

By the way, a very happy and prosperous Diwali to you all. Let it be safe, noise free and eco-friendly!

Cheers ~

Dhak-Bahiri, 11 Oct 2009

Bull shitting under the pretext of religious sentiments in India has reached alarming levels long ago and the amount of stink that has permeated the atmosphere is suffocatingly stinky!

Had a close encounter with the filthy stink yesterday on one of the very popular hiking trails in Sahyadri – The Dhak Bahiri. What was the stink about?

Have these -

Females, not allowed. If they try to pay their obeisance to the deity, it renders them impious, and may be, even amount to sacrilege!

However, chaknas and liquor seems to be the prasad offerings to the deity. A lot of the stink-causing villagers, who maintain their double standards, threatened us with dire consequences if the female accompanying us were to climb upto the ‘pious’ cave. However, they carried gallons of liqour atop and created nuisance in the cave.

Behead a live chicken in the cave, cut it, cook it and then savour it along with the liquor. Goes down well with the deity? eh? Utter bull shit. Nuisance values!

No issues with us, since the girl accompanying us had been there twice earlier and not being there for the third time did not bore holes into our souls and egos! But this nonsensical fuss did, maybe..

Other than that …

No offense to the day; it was a perfectly beautiful day with all the frills attached – less humid, not-a-scalding-heat, the freshness of green post monsoons and more importantly a good group to share all this with.

We started from Jambhivali village. Jambhivali can be reached from Kamshet (15 kms from Lonavala, on Pune-Lonavala route).

It takes around 30 minutes to reach Jambhivali from Kamshet. From Jambhivali a good trek of hour and a half brought us to the col between the Kalakrai pinnacle and the Dhak massif. Another 5 minutes to reach the famous rock patch of Bahiri.

The heat, even though not  scalding, was hot enough to try and seek some shade. The cave was left in pathetic condition by the rampaging villagers.. the hooters!

The final stretches of Bahiri patches, need to be negotiated with care. In summers, more so because chances of sun-stroke increases manifold owing to the extremely hot temperatures and completely exposed stretches.

We paid a quick visit to the cave and decided to descend towards the Karjat side. Descending to Sandshi village from Dhak is no-easy task. Why? No defined route as such.. Lot of thickets to negotiate and plenty of avenues to lose the way and get stranded in the jungle as the sun sets down on you and no other option than to spend a night out in the jungle.

We were about to end up doing the same (spend night in the jungle), but for some correct decisions and route finding. After a very long traverse, we reached Kalakrai wadi and then to Mangaon (near Sandshi). It was 7.15 PM by the time we reached Mangaon, the final 30 minutes being in darkness.

From Mangaon, we managed to hire a rickshaw ride till Karjat and the 8.41 PM fast train to CST. Good trek with the fellows, apart for the mind-numbing senseless display on the villagers part. Who were they..? Not worth discussing..!

Check out the photos here -

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/rohanrrao/DhakBahiri#

Cheers ~~~

Issued in public interest by …

Elections are round the corner and the Jaago re, Badlaav and Youth for change and all such initiatives start cropping up in numbers and soon teem the media space all over.

But do these organisations & initiatives help in achieving the change? Will increased participation of the youth in the elections solve all the problems?

I don’t think so.

I strongly believe that these awareness campaigns, even though a noble effort, pathetically fail against the rampant corruption, bullying by the political powerhouses and unethical emotional foul play that appeals to the irrational emotional sentiments of the masses.

Just imagine yourself in a position of an educated and informed youth from Dharavi, who is well informed about the fallacy of the contesting political party. And you are resolute to vote for the best and cleanest collar in the upcoming elections.

Then just as your resolution becomes contagious, you are confronted with a juicy offer. A fortune that you just can’t refuse in exchange for a vote. And all the resolutions are washed away.

Or, a threatening to you & your family.

Or being brain-washed into religious injustice / humbugs of minority and all other bull shit and abetted into wrong doings.

Well, the avenues for breaking your resolutions are larger than you think and more powerful than we perceive.

These initiatives aims to create public awareness and a positive movement for betterment of the society spend fortunes on advertising campaigns, promotions and events. Good for the cause. The footnote in these advertisements, ‘Issue in Public Interest’ also lends a positive to the suspecting wicked in me.

Then what can we do? Sit back and relax? Mera kya jata hain attitude? Yeh India hain, yaha kuch nahi ho sakta?

There is a way. Resort to Guerrilla warfare and we can sustain and improve the situation.

Consider these metros as the targets of these political powerhouses. These centres are thoroughly permeated with the infectious worms and their reign is very strong in these areas. These are the foci of infections and will gradually spread to more vulnerable areas, the tier-II and tier-III cities.

Rather than attacking the source of infection, the focus of foul play, the metros, the political powerhouses, we must protect the peripheries and vulnerable towns from these ravagers. Start with the rural areas, which are farthest from the focus of infection. Empower them and improve its immunity to such an extent that they become resistant to these infections.

Then move towards the centre, one level up, in the tier-III cities and then sequentially to tier-II cities. Make the peripheries so strong that they gradually encroach the centre and stifle the foci of infections.

Well, visualize it and it looks perfectly feasible, isn’t it? It does, yeah!

Implementation isn’t too difficult too. Move away from the focus and focus on the unfocussed. Participate in rural upliftment and empowering the hinterlands.

How can we do this?

• Educate – Teach in village schools for free, a voluntary act.
• Listen to them and be sympathetic towards their problems
• Tackle each situation one by one and patiently
• Get to the basics, be humanitarian
• Inform them of the current affairs and update them on the need of the hour
• Enlighten them about the positives that the future beholds for them with just few informed actions
• Help them in decision making
• Instill a sense of confidence and righteousness that will render them impermeable to the corrupt practices rampant at the focus

There are many more things that can be done. Just think and rack your grey cells. You will better the above mentioned crap and come out with smarter ideas.

Arthur’s seat – Chandragad (Dhavale) Trek: Sep ‘09

Another one with a night out in thickly forested jungle infested with wild carnivores! Another night out in a jungle after an encounter with the deadly venomous Bamboo Pit Viper! Another night out in a jungle after some tired bodies with scared souls insisted on walking no further! Another night out in a jungle besides a gushing stream and a bliss..

Well, mid September is surely not an advisable time for the Arthur’s Seat – Chandragad trek, but then not paying heed to deterrent advice is what distinguishes this bunch… ready to rough it out kuch bhi..kaise bhi.. kabhi bhi…

Then what was the worrisome factor? That we were 14 of us and all of them weren’t prepared for kuch bhi and  kaise bhi..!!!

So the much awaited Friday night came as we boarded the Mahabaleshwar bound Asiad and after a bit of quiesence dozed off..! Came dawn and we alighted the bus at 6.00 AM and surprisingly Mahabaleshwar was neither chilly nor were there any traces of rainfall! Quite unusual..

Read complete treklogue here – The Travelarks Blog