So, you are invited to a home made traditional South Indian dinner at a friends place. Its a good time to catch up with old buddies and meet a couple of new people.
After all the Long times, Hellos and How Do You Dos over a good drink the dinner is served. You are looking forward to gorging on all the delicious food laid at the table. The conversation continue at the table and everyone is having a great time. The new acquaintances are keenly listening to your old stories and the old friends are still laughing at the punch lines they've heard a million times before. It never gets old.
The conversation turns to everyone recounting hilarious situations at past dinners, usually involving an embarrassed friend present and if you are drunk enough, yourself. Like remember the time when you went to the bathroom at a lady friend's dinner and your zipper failed you? You were stuck in the bathroom for an hour before you had the courage to ask the host for some safety pins. Or the time when at a formal dinner at your boss's, while playing with her 4 year old daughter, the seat of your pants ripped? It was also the day you decided not to wear any underwear. You spent the rest of the evening looking ridiculous with your shirt hanging out and your formal coat tied around your waist? Or that fellow's wife who came out of the bathroom with the hem of her skirt tucked into her underwear at the back. She had walked across the hall with all eyes on her before someone told her.
Happens to all of us.
The food is great. Spicy! The Garam Masala and the red chilli powder in the curries is making you sweat but you can't stop, relishing every bite eating with your hands and licking your fingers. More beer is helping put out the fire on your tongue. The (very very) Chilli Chicken has generous helping of green chillies which are burning your lips and your fingertips. Fantastic!
Everyone is still laughing and talking as you head off to wash your hands. Having wiped your hands with a napkin, you can still feel the spices burning on your fingers as you wait to wash your hands in cool water. The beer has done it's job too; the bladder is at full capacity and them some more. You are already doing the piss dance. Fourth in line to the sink, you turn to the left and see the toilet door open and someone exit. Ah! let me take a piss while I wait to wash the red and green chillies off my fingers. And you step away from the line.
Well, DONT! For what happens 30 seconds later will make for a very interesting story at the next dinner.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Riding In The Rain
It's been one year since I wrote my last blog. I've been busy with Work at Ford and developing The Farm (facebook, blog). I recently had a fantastic experience which I must share.
The other day I left work as usual on my motorcycle and it started to rain as I left the building. I love the rain and did not think of stopping, but almost everyone else on a two wheeler was looking for shelter - under a bridge, inside shops etc. I rode on - it was a light drizzle and would probably stop in a while.
As I reached the main road the light rain turned into a downpour. If I took a left, home was 5 minutes away. Right was a 30 minute ride. I turned right.
Growing up in Chandigarh, I remember riding my motorcycle in the rain at every opportunity I got. Whenever we were home for the holidays, all of us kids would play in the rain while Mom cooked up hot sweet pudas. My mother tells me that even as a kid, I was fascinated by the rain and would sit and watch the rain for hours. I was a restless kid and I guess the rain calmed me down. It still does.
So as I rode in the rain I felt I was missing something. I was wearing a helmet and my head was dry. I wasn't 'feeling the rain on my face". I stopped on the side of the road and took my helmet off and just enjoyed the rain for sometime, put on my helmet and rode home.
I thought of many things - my clothes are wet and I probable will have to throw away my new shoes and in how much trouble will I be with the wife. I didn't care - I was having so much fun.
When I reached home and parked my bike it was still pouring. I did not want the feeling to end. I sent my driver upstairs with my bag and went and stood in the rain. I looked around me and all the kids were in the parking lot, under the shelters. I could see they wanted to come out and play but their mothers were holding them back. Of 'course the moms looked at me as if I was insane. It was really sad to see parents over protecting their kids. What's the worse that could happen? The kid would catch a cold? That helps the immune system I'm told. Just let them have fun. My mom let me play in the rain for as long as I wanted to and I turned out all right.
My driver returned and clicked a picture of me getting wet. My wife wanted to know what I was up to and did not believe him when he told her about what I was doing. He took the picture to her as proof.
Finally I did go up expecting a blasting from her but Monika found it very amusing. She made me a hot cup of tea and we went out for hot Jalebis.
We give up the little pleasures life has to offer in the name of growing up. The things we give up doing are also things we prevent our children from doing. I've always found happiness in small things and will continue to do so. I wish the parents of the kids in my building (and everywhere else) did so too.
The next time it rains, give me a call - we'll go out and play.
The other day I left work as usual on my motorcycle and it started to rain as I left the building. I love the rain and did not think of stopping, but almost everyone else on a two wheeler was looking for shelter - under a bridge, inside shops etc. I rode on - it was a light drizzle and would probably stop in a while.
As I reached the main road the light rain turned into a downpour. If I took a left, home was 5 minutes away. Right was a 30 minute ride. I turned right.
Growing up in Chandigarh, I remember riding my motorcycle in the rain at every opportunity I got. Whenever we were home for the holidays, all of us kids would play in the rain while Mom cooked up hot sweet pudas. My mother tells me that even as a kid, I was fascinated by the rain and would sit and watch the rain for hours. I was a restless kid and I guess the rain calmed me down. It still does.
So as I rode in the rain I felt I was missing something. I was wearing a helmet and my head was dry. I wasn't 'feeling the rain on my face". I stopped on the side of the road and took my helmet off and just enjoyed the rain for sometime, put on my helmet and rode home.
I thought of many things - my clothes are wet and I probable will have to throw away my new shoes and in how much trouble will I be with the wife. I didn't care - I was having so much fun.
When I reached home and parked my bike it was still pouring. I did not want the feeling to end. I sent my driver upstairs with my bag and went and stood in the rain. I looked around me and all the kids were in the parking lot, under the shelters. I could see they wanted to come out and play but their mothers were holding them back. Of 'course the moms looked at me as if I was insane. It was really sad to see parents over protecting their kids. What's the worse that could happen? The kid would catch a cold? That helps the immune system I'm told. Just let them have fun. My mom let me play in the rain for as long as I wanted to and I turned out all right.
My driver returned and clicked a picture of me getting wet. My wife wanted to know what I was up to and did not believe him when he told her about what I was doing. He took the picture to her as proof.
Finally I did go up expecting a blasting from her but Monika found it very amusing. She made me a hot cup of tea and we went out for hot Jalebis.
We give up the little pleasures life has to offer in the name of growing up. The things we give up doing are also things we prevent our children from doing. I've always found happiness in small things and will continue to do so. I wish the parents of the kids in my building (and everywhere else) did so too.
The next time it rains, give me a call - we'll go out and play.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Waiting for mid-life crisis
I turned 37 a few days back. The birthday came and went by without making a noise. I did not tell anyone it was my birthday and stayed at office late (because there was some work to be done).
I don't really celebrate my birthday. It's just like any other day. But a birthday does have some significance because a lot of things in life are measured by your age. You plan to do certain things by a certain age, measure your achievements and compare yourself with others your age. But how do you celebrate your 37th birthday? I don't know.
My wife asked me what I'd like for my birthday. I thought about it and asked her - "What do you give a 37 year old man on his birthday?" I never got an answer or a birthday present.
But 37 is a strange number, rather I would say an "average" number. I thought about it a lot, about why this is such an insignificant number or age. It is not a rounded-off figure like 35 or 40. I had no plans to be at a certain stage in my career by 37. I've never heard some say - "He is so successful at 37" or "When I am 37 I want to be so and so" or "look, there goes a 37 year old man/woman".
You are also expected to "behave your age". I mentioned to a friend a couple of days before my birthday that I should start behaving my age. he laughed his arse off. If you know me well enough, you would too. After one more beer, I laughed my arse off too. How does a 37 year old man behave? I have a vague idea how a person in mid-30's behaves. but 37 is neither mid-thirties nor is it late thirties but in between. Do I belong to the mid-thirties demographics or the late thirties? It is very confusing. It is strange and it feels very "average".
So 37 is your average strangely confusing age. But I do have a plan for 40! It's called mid-life crisis. I can't wait to be 40!!!
I don't really celebrate my birthday. It's just like any other day. But a birthday does have some significance because a lot of things in life are measured by your age. You plan to do certain things by a certain age, measure your achievements and compare yourself with others your age. But how do you celebrate your 37th birthday? I don't know.
My wife asked me what I'd like for my birthday. I thought about it and asked her - "What do you give a 37 year old man on his birthday?" I never got an answer or a birthday present.
But 37 is a strange number, rather I would say an "average" number. I thought about it a lot, about why this is such an insignificant number or age. It is not a rounded-off figure like 35 or 40. I had no plans to be at a certain stage in my career by 37. I've never heard some say - "He is so successful at 37" or "When I am 37 I want to be so and so" or "look, there goes a 37 year old man/woman".
You are also expected to "behave your age". I mentioned to a friend a couple of days before my birthday that I should start behaving my age. he laughed his arse off. If you know me well enough, you would too. After one more beer, I laughed my arse off too. How does a 37 year old man behave? I have a vague idea how a person in mid-30's behaves. but 37 is neither mid-thirties nor is it late thirties but in between. Do I belong to the mid-thirties demographics or the late thirties? It is very confusing. It is strange and it feels very "average".
So 37 is your average strangely confusing age. But I do have a plan for 40! It's called mid-life crisis. I can't wait to be 40!!!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
More Cell phone rant (last one, I promise)
I think we have gone too far with our obsession with cell phones (I also think I am going too far with my cell phone rants). I saw a program on the television recently where they were testing cell phones. A lot of channels and companies test cell phones in many strange ways, but this one was put to the ultimate test. They were firing live ammunition rounds at the various cell phones with a high powered rifle! I stayed on the channel and watched the entire show. I wanted to know what the conclusion was and why were they destroying all these (some very expensive) cell phones. They concluded that one of the Nokia phones had minimal damage and I think the Blackberry incurred the maximum. The presenter ended the show with ‘Will this research help the business user to make a choice between the Blackberry and the Nokia so and so model?” I don’t get it! Every cell phone was destroyed. I am not counting on a cell phone to save me from an assassination attempt even if the cell phone was made bullet proof. And no, I will never take this data, or research into consideration while buying a cell phone.
I am just amazed at the fact that TV channels have an hour long recurring weekly program dedicated to cell phone instruments (Cell guru, to name one). They find something to talk about every week? Amazing! The current cell phone I use is my 4th cell phone. I bought my first cell phone in Philadelphia in 2002, which I shared with my wife – which means she used it most of the time. When I was made Director with Capgemini/Sogeti my boss insisted I carry a company cell phone. It was a business need. I moved to India in 2005 and needed to get a cell phone, since I was moving to a new city where I did not know anyone. So I set out on my quest to buy one. The conversation between the cell phone salesman and me went something like this:
Me: Hi. I’d like to buy a cell phone.
Salesman: For what?
Me: To talk to people.
Salesman: Yes, but what else do you want.
Me: A charger….
Salesman: NO NO NO NO NO Sir!! Camera, Video, FM, MP3 ….(and a whole lot of stuff I had no idea about)
Me: No thanks, I have a very good camera and an iPod. Just a cell phone please, to make and receive calls and store some numbers.
Salesman: Arrey sir, that is not important. I have phone with 3 mega pixel Camera and Video and……
Me: No! I want a plain phone. How about that Nokia 1080 for RS 1500 (I had done my research)?
Salesman: NO NO NO NO NO SIR!! that is for servant. You cannot buy that phone!
We argued for 20 minutes, but he refused to sell me the phone. I had to send my driver back to the shop to buy it for me. I used it for two years without feeling the need for a “better” phone.
I think I missed the boat, but when did a cell phone become a lifestyle product, and how? Again, I fail to understand this phenomenon. One may argue that cars, watches etc., are also life style products. Why spend hundreds of thousands on a Rolex when a couple of thousand bucks on a Titan watch will serve the purpose? Why waste money on a BMW when a crappy Hyundai can also take you from point A to B? Well, Rolex and BMW are benchmarks in engineering performance and precision. A classic car, a great watch, or a hand crafted pen has character. They symbolize power, success, achievement and class. They are works of art. I have observed people with expensive, latest models of cell phones. Cell phones do not have character or class and have no bearing on the success of the person using it. My driver has better phone than mine. The technology inside does not change so the only way to make cell phones expensive enough for only the super rich to be able to afford is by making them in gold and covering them in diamonds. The high price tag is not for the technology, but for the metals and stones. Most people don’t even use most of the functionalities on their phones. When I think about the time I will be successful and rich, I think of the Rolex I want and the BMW I want to drive; not the cell phone I intend to buy to celebrate my success. Character is why people collect old cars, bikes, watches. I admire my friend’s1947 Triumph Twin which he restored to immaculate condition. I would be very worried if he were trying to do the same with a 1996 Motorola Startac.
I am just amazed at the fact that TV channels have an hour long recurring weekly program dedicated to cell phone instruments (Cell guru, to name one). They find something to talk about every week? Amazing! The current cell phone I use is my 4th cell phone. I bought my first cell phone in Philadelphia in 2002, which I shared with my wife – which means she used it most of the time. When I was made Director with Capgemini/Sogeti my boss insisted I carry a company cell phone. It was a business need. I moved to India in 2005 and needed to get a cell phone, since I was moving to a new city where I did not know anyone. So I set out on my quest to buy one. The conversation between the cell phone salesman and me went something like this:
Me: Hi. I’d like to buy a cell phone.
Salesman: For what?
Me: To talk to people.
Salesman: Yes, but what else do you want.
Me: A charger….
Salesman: NO NO NO NO NO Sir!! Camera, Video, FM, MP3 ….(and a whole lot of stuff I had no idea about)
Me: No thanks, I have a very good camera and an iPod. Just a cell phone please, to make and receive calls and store some numbers.
Salesman: Arrey sir, that is not important. I have phone with 3 mega pixel Camera and Video and……
Me: No! I want a plain phone. How about that Nokia 1080 for RS 1500 (I had done my research)?
Salesman: NO NO NO NO NO SIR!! that is for servant. You cannot buy that phone!
We argued for 20 minutes, but he refused to sell me the phone. I had to send my driver back to the shop to buy it for me. I used it for two years without feeling the need for a “better” phone.
I think I missed the boat, but when did a cell phone become a lifestyle product, and how? Again, I fail to understand this phenomenon. One may argue that cars, watches etc., are also life style products. Why spend hundreds of thousands on a Rolex when a couple of thousand bucks on a Titan watch will serve the purpose? Why waste money on a BMW when a crappy Hyundai can also take you from point A to B? Well, Rolex and BMW are benchmarks in engineering performance and precision. A classic car, a great watch, or a hand crafted pen has character. They symbolize power, success, achievement and class. They are works of art. I have observed people with expensive, latest models of cell phones. Cell phones do not have character or class and have no bearing on the success of the person using it. My driver has better phone than mine. The technology inside does not change so the only way to make cell phones expensive enough for only the super rich to be able to afford is by making them in gold and covering them in diamonds. The high price tag is not for the technology, but for the metals and stones. Most people don’t even use most of the functionalities on their phones. When I think about the time I will be successful and rich, I think of the Rolex I want and the BMW I want to drive; not the cell phone I intend to buy to celebrate my success. Character is why people collect old cars, bikes, watches. I admire my friend’s1947 Triumph Twin which he restored to immaculate condition. I would be very worried if he were trying to do the same with a 1996 Motorola Startac.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Cell phone rant
Maybe I am one of a kind, but I just do not understand our generation’s obsession with cell phones; and I am not talking about just the instrument, but also the amount of time people spend talking and messaging on it. I am convinced that some people do nothing else. Just the other day I was driving with my wife, headed into town for dinner. The lane was narrow and crowded and a girl on a scooter in front of me was swerving all over the place. She could not keep the bike steady because she was maneuvering it with one hand. As I overtook her, I looked over to she why she wasn’t using her right hand – no points for guessing- she was typing an SMS! Talk about multitasking. That must have been one important message that she was risking her life for. She was probably late in meeting her friends at Café Coffee Day.
I see a group of friends sitting together and half of them are either talking on the cell phone or messaging someone. People using the phone while driving and riding is a common sight. The wife on the pillion lovingly holding the cell phone to the husband’s face (the helmet skillfully balanced on the petrol tank) at 60 km/hour never ceases to amaze me. People are on the cell phone everywhere; while shopping, restaurants, morning/evening walks on the beach, in the movie halls, public bathrooms, airports, trains, buses, elevators, banks/ATMs. Events like weddings, funerals and even interviews are not immune. I’ve yet to find a place where a cell phone is not used. If there is a signal, people will talk. I’ve had people come to my house, only to spend time in the balcony talking to someone else. Downright rude!
One of the most annoying ones is the airplane cell phone conversation. “I’ve boarded the plane and the flight is about to take off’ and “We just landed, and I’m waiting to get off the plane.” I hear that from at least four or five people every time I take a flight. In the midst of all the benign information that follows, what these rude cell phone users don’t say is, “There is a short, fat, homicidal looking man standing next to me. I can tell that he is getting ready to beat me senseless for talking loudly about nothing on my phone.” People, please: if there is nowhere for the rest of us to go, think about whether you really need to have that conversation.
Don’t even get me started on ring tones. I’ve heard the worst in the most unlikely of places. We were in a meeting with a very senior executive at my previous job who was telling us the repercussions of the extremely bad financial year. There was pin drop silence and suddenly we heard a loud “Oh baby, baby”. Someone’s cell phone rang. “Oh baby, baby” kept repeating while this person scrambled to pull out the phone from his pocket and turn it off. No points for guessing his nick name from that point on.
It is very interesting and funny to observe behavior when someone is in a place where there is no network. They’ll shake the phone, walk around holding the phone high in desperation as if they will die if they don’t get a network soon. They have an expression of total dejection or impending gloom till then. And the delight to have a signal, the joy to be back in the network – life is normal again. A network is as important as air, food and water – the Reliance advertisement tells us. It is now one of the four basic necessities to sustain life on this planet.
Cell phones aren’t the problem here. Don’t get me wrong. I rate the cell phone as one of the greatest inventions of mankind. I think mobile phones rank up there with the invention of the wheel and the internal combustion engine. As we all know too well, mobiles can be critical in keeping us safe and connected. It has made communication easy, cheap and mobile. The keyword here is communication. Technology and its myriad benefits are not the issue. People are. I suppose functionality and ease-of-use of these devices lead us to become lazy and to lose awareness of ourselves, others and our surroundings.
Gartner Group predicts that one billion mobile phones will be sold worldwide in the year 2009. The decibel level is rising and there is no stopping this growth.
Blatant cell use/misuse isn't limited to social venues, either. It's corrupting the most basic of business courtesies. I am a part of the senior management/leadership team and I can tell you that they don’t care. Phones are answered in meetings, during presentations, important one on one interaction with demonstrating absolute unprofessional behavior and utter disregard and disrespect to others. It is not only at my office, but everywhere.
People don’t care anymore to talk publicly about their personal and private issues on the cell phone. I have too much detail about too many people I don’t know. People are defining new rules and behavior for what’s personal and what’s private. I understand that technological change leads to social change, but there's always a lag. True, but manners aren’t improving with increased use. Technology and manners are compatible. We need to switch off our cell phones once in a while and be here, in the present. We should pay attention to the friends we are having coffee with. We should learn to enjoy the here and the now. We need to pay attention to the business meeting or presentation at hand. We need to stop the cell phones from ruling our lives! We need to behave!
I want to own a bar/restaurant someday. When I do, there will be a message at every table – We’ll gladly serve you, once you finish your phone call!
I see a group of friends sitting together and half of them are either talking on the cell phone or messaging someone. People using the phone while driving and riding is a common sight. The wife on the pillion lovingly holding the cell phone to the husband’s face (the helmet skillfully balanced on the petrol tank) at 60 km/hour never ceases to amaze me. People are on the cell phone everywhere; while shopping, restaurants, morning/evening walks on the beach, in the movie halls, public bathrooms, airports, trains, buses, elevators, banks/ATMs. Events like weddings, funerals and even interviews are not immune. I’ve yet to find a place where a cell phone is not used. If there is a signal, people will talk. I’ve had people come to my house, only to spend time in the balcony talking to someone else. Downright rude!
One of the most annoying ones is the airplane cell phone conversation. “I’ve boarded the plane and the flight is about to take off’ and “We just landed, and I’m waiting to get off the plane.” I hear that from at least four or five people every time I take a flight. In the midst of all the benign information that follows, what these rude cell phone users don’t say is, “There is a short, fat, homicidal looking man standing next to me. I can tell that he is getting ready to beat me senseless for talking loudly about nothing on my phone.” People, please: if there is nowhere for the rest of us to go, think about whether you really need to have that conversation.
Don’t even get me started on ring tones. I’ve heard the worst in the most unlikely of places. We were in a meeting with a very senior executive at my previous job who was telling us the repercussions of the extremely bad financial year. There was pin drop silence and suddenly we heard a loud “Oh baby, baby”. Someone’s cell phone rang. “Oh baby, baby” kept repeating while this person scrambled to pull out the phone from his pocket and turn it off. No points for guessing his nick name from that point on.
It is very interesting and funny to observe behavior when someone is in a place where there is no network. They’ll shake the phone, walk around holding the phone high in desperation as if they will die if they don’t get a network soon. They have an expression of total dejection or impending gloom till then. And the delight to have a signal, the joy to be back in the network – life is normal again. A network is as important as air, food and water – the Reliance advertisement tells us. It is now one of the four basic necessities to sustain life on this planet.
Cell phones aren’t the problem here. Don’t get me wrong. I rate the cell phone as one of the greatest inventions of mankind. I think mobile phones rank up there with the invention of the wheel and the internal combustion engine. As we all know too well, mobiles can be critical in keeping us safe and connected. It has made communication easy, cheap and mobile. The keyword here is communication. Technology and its myriad benefits are not the issue. People are. I suppose functionality and ease-of-use of these devices lead us to become lazy and to lose awareness of ourselves, others and our surroundings.
Gartner Group predicts that one billion mobile phones will be sold worldwide in the year 2009. The decibel level is rising and there is no stopping this growth.
Blatant cell use/misuse isn't limited to social venues, either. It's corrupting the most basic of business courtesies. I am a part of the senior management/leadership team and I can tell you that they don’t care. Phones are answered in meetings, during presentations, important one on one interaction with demonstrating absolute unprofessional behavior and utter disregard and disrespect to others. It is not only at my office, but everywhere.
People don’t care anymore to talk publicly about their personal and private issues on the cell phone. I have too much detail about too many people I don’t know. People are defining new rules and behavior for what’s personal and what’s private. I understand that technological change leads to social change, but there's always a lag. True, but manners aren’t improving with increased use. Technology and manners are compatible. We need to switch off our cell phones once in a while and be here, in the present. We should pay attention to the friends we are having coffee with. We should learn to enjoy the here and the now. We need to pay attention to the business meeting or presentation at hand. We need to stop the cell phones from ruling our lives! We need to behave!
I want to own a bar/restaurant someday. When I do, there will be a message at every table – We’ll gladly serve you, once you finish your phone call!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Himalayan Odyssey write up on the Royal Enfield website
The long version of my Himalayan Odyssey experience is published on the Royal Enfield website. The Blog was the short version of the write up.
I am still waiting for my memory cards to reach me. Apparently they've travelled to Europe and back. I haven't yet seen the pictures I took. As soon as I have the cards, I promise to put them online.
Kyle, you bastard, if you are reading this, send me the cards.
I am still waiting for my memory cards to reach me. Apparently they've travelled to Europe and back. I haven't yet seen the pictures I took. As soon as I have the cards, I promise to put them online.
Kyle, you bastard, if you are reading this, send me the cards.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Himalayan Odyssey - The Time Of My Life
‘I am definitely doing this again’ – I promised myself, as I stood by the side of the road. I was looking at breathtaking view of magnificent mountains with snow capped peaks hidden in the clouds, lush green sides sloping down to a deep valley with a gushing river flowing through with a force that could move big boulders. Apart from the sound of the wild river the only other sound was a distant faint thumping of a motorcycle. I was riding with the Royal Enfield Himalayan Odyssey 2007 and had just crossed Rohtang pass on our way to Manali. This was the 12th day of the trip.
I had returned to India after an 8 year gap of not having ridden a motorcycle. I had heard about the Himalayan Odyssey from friends I’d made trying to get back into riding once I moved to Chennai. The riding scene in India has matured and grown a lot since then with almost every major city with a couple of very active motorcycle clubs. I was 22 then and 35 KGS lighter and now I wanted to see if I still had it in me. I had convinced my wife to let me participate by saying that this would be a once in a lifetime thing. Stupid me!
So, after a lot of arguments, discussions, pleading, dinners and jewelery, I got permission from the boss to participate in the Himalayan Odyssey 2008. My friend Arul Futnani, fellow (rather the only other) Fat Bastard and a farmer by profession had been pestering me from the day I had returned from last years ride to accompany him in 2008.
Fifty odd participants and media personnel from various automotive magazines get together for an experience they will never forget, for one reason or another. It takes about two weeks to cover about 2500 kilometers, from Delhi to Khardung-la Pass and back through the majestic, beautiful and humbling Himalayas with riders from all over the country - I counted 10 state number plates. The riders are accompanied by a logistics support staff; a luggage truck carrying everyone’s baggage and spare parts and tools; a service vehicle with mechanics/engineers from Royal Enfield; a vehicle with a doctor, his assistant and medical supplies and equipment and a media van. One news channel covers the ride one way to Khardung-la and another on the way back.
The 2500 kilometer ride was through Delhi – Chandigarh – Manali – (via Rohtang Pass) Keylong – (via Barlach la pass) Sarchu – (via Nakeela, Lachung la and Tanglang la passes) Rumtse – Leh - Khardung la – Leh – Debring (Sokhar Lake, More Plains) – Keylong – Kaza (Spiti Valley) – Kalpa – Rampur – Solan – Delhi.
A number of people have asked me why did I take part in the Odyssey, and why twice? I should have done the second time on my own with a smaller group of friends. It is more adventurous and fun. I disagree. I had the time of my life on both the trips. Both were two different experiences; both very soul satisfying. The scenery changes so often that no matter how many times you do it; each time will be a different experience. Maybe it's because the people on each ride are different and very diverse. Conversations in the evening are fun, ranging from typical guy talk about babes and bikes to careers and ambitions.
The Odyssey is not a competition. There are no losers, everyone is a winner. There are no points for reaching a destination first; no negative points for falling. The thrill is in participation. Maybe I am getting old, but I see absolutely no reason why I should not opt for comfort and leave the logistics to someone else. It leaves my mind free to enjoy the ride.
Everyone has their own terrain preferences, but most people tend to enjoy riding off the beaten path (or tarmac in this case). There are steep inclines, hairpin bends, long never ending curves, water crossing and remnants of recently cleared landslides. About 50% of the ride is over very rough terrain. One stretch was 80 kilometers of road that had never seen tarmac, almost half of it through a river bed. By the 9th or 10th day for most riders the definition of a good road being rough, gravel and sand changes to mirror finish smooth.
Everyone has their own reasons to doing the ride too. In talking to people in the last ride and this year, I've heard almost every reason I could think of and more. Some do it for the off-road riding experience, some for the thrill and bragging rights to have been to the highest motor-able road in the world (Khardung La at 18,380 feet above sea level), some people come in groups to enjoy time with their friends, few nature lovers and a few from a totally tourist perspective. I've heard one person say that he does not know exactly why he was on the ride, but he'd heard it was a great experience. The diversity of the riders is amazing too; ages range from 19 to 45, a few women riders, doctors, engineers, professionals, businessmen, IT professionals and this time even a farmer! It just goes to show that enthusiastic riders, even in India, are not limited to a gender, age, race, profession and region. The first time I did it as a test for myself and the second time because Royal Enfield just makes is easier by way of organizing everything. I wouldn't do a ride like the Himalayan Odyssey any other way.
Standing on the side of the road during the last Odyssey, resolving to come back again, I was thinking, almost sad that I may never feel this way again. It was fantastic feeling of freedom, satisfaction and euphoria. You will never feel the same way again, no matter how many times you participate in the Odyssey because every time will feel different, same but different. Different because the people are different, a year has passed and your life has gone through some changes. Last year I did not know anyone on the Odyssey and this year I was with friends. Each year I had the time of my life.
Another Odyssey next year? I don't know. I am not saying I will, but I also not promising that I will not!
I had returned to India after an 8 year gap of not having ridden a motorcycle. I had heard about the Himalayan Odyssey from friends I’d made trying to get back into riding once I moved to Chennai. The riding scene in India has matured and grown a lot since then with almost every major city with a couple of very active motorcycle clubs. I was 22 then and 35 KGS lighter and now I wanted to see if I still had it in me. I had convinced my wife to let me participate by saying that this would be a once in a lifetime thing. Stupid me!
So, after a lot of arguments, discussions, pleading, dinners and jewelery, I got permission from the boss to participate in the Himalayan Odyssey 2008. My friend Arul Futnani, fellow (rather the only other) Fat Bastard and a farmer by profession had been pestering me from the day I had returned from last years ride to accompany him in 2008.
Fifty odd participants and media personnel from various automotive magazines get together for an experience they will never forget, for one reason or another. It takes about two weeks to cover about 2500 kilometers, from Delhi to Khardung-la Pass and back through the majestic, beautiful and humbling Himalayas with riders from all over the country - I counted 10 state number plates. The riders are accompanied by a logistics support staff; a luggage truck carrying everyone’s baggage and spare parts and tools; a service vehicle with mechanics/engineers from Royal Enfield; a vehicle with a doctor, his assistant and medical supplies and equipment and a media van. One news channel covers the ride one way to Khardung-la and another on the way back.
The 2500 kilometer ride was through Delhi – Chandigarh – Manali – (via Rohtang Pass) Keylong – (via Barlach la pass) Sarchu – (via Nakeela, Lachung la and Tanglang la passes) Rumtse – Leh - Khardung la – Leh – Debring (Sokhar Lake, More Plains) – Keylong – Kaza (Spiti Valley) – Kalpa – Rampur – Solan – Delhi.
A number of people have asked me why did I take part in the Odyssey, and why twice? I should have done the second time on my own with a smaller group of friends. It is more adventurous and fun. I disagree. I had the time of my life on both the trips. Both were two different experiences; both very soul satisfying. The scenery changes so often that no matter how many times you do it; each time will be a different experience. Maybe it's because the people on each ride are different and very diverse. Conversations in the evening are fun, ranging from typical guy talk about babes and bikes to careers and ambitions.
The Odyssey is not a competition. There are no losers, everyone is a winner. There are no points for reaching a destination first; no negative points for falling. The thrill is in participation. Maybe I am getting old, but I see absolutely no reason why I should not opt for comfort and leave the logistics to someone else. It leaves my mind free to enjoy the ride.
Everyone has their own terrain preferences, but most people tend to enjoy riding off the beaten path (or tarmac in this case). There are steep inclines, hairpin bends, long never ending curves, water crossing and remnants of recently cleared landslides. About 50% of the ride is over very rough terrain. One stretch was 80 kilometers of road that had never seen tarmac, almost half of it through a river bed. By the 9th or 10th day for most riders the definition of a good road being rough, gravel and sand changes to mirror finish smooth.
Everyone has their own reasons to doing the ride too. In talking to people in the last ride and this year, I've heard almost every reason I could think of and more. Some do it for the off-road riding experience, some for the thrill and bragging rights to have been to the highest motor-able road in the world (Khardung La at 18,380 feet above sea level), some people come in groups to enjoy time with their friends, few nature lovers and a few from a totally tourist perspective. I've heard one person say that he does not know exactly why he was on the ride, but he'd heard it was a great experience. The diversity of the riders is amazing too; ages range from 19 to 45, a few women riders, doctors, engineers, professionals, businessmen, IT professionals and this time even a farmer! It just goes to show that enthusiastic riders, even in India, are not limited to a gender, age, race, profession and region. The first time I did it as a test for myself and the second time because Royal Enfield just makes is easier by way of organizing everything. I wouldn't do a ride like the Himalayan Odyssey any other way.
Standing on the side of the road during the last Odyssey, resolving to come back again, I was thinking, almost sad that I may never feel this way again. It was fantastic feeling of freedom, satisfaction and euphoria. You will never feel the same way again, no matter how many times you participate in the Odyssey because every time will feel different, same but different. Different because the people are different, a year has passed and your life has gone through some changes. Last year I did not know anyone on the Odyssey and this year I was with friends. Each year I had the time of my life.
Another Odyssey next year? I don't know. I am not saying I will, but I also not promising that I will not!
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