Treading the Old Silk Route...

I've been snoozing the reminder to blog about my summer trip to Darjeeling-Gangtok for quite a few days , thanks to my laziness. Finally, Here I am!

Though I did not want to travel with parents without bro for company, I gave my nod for this trip since I relished the fact that I was gonna be taken from temperatures of 40 degrees straight to 4 degrees! :D At the start , it was disappointment - No hot girls on the flight . None traveling with the same tour operators and none amongst the flight crew (as always is the case with our national carrier).

To add to that, Darjeeling disappointed at the start. The Darjeeling mountain railway , which is one of UNESCO's world heritage sites wasn't functioning and by the look of it, the state of the railways was pitiable. There is a lot of water scarcity at the place, so much that there are cart services that transport water from available resources to households. There was a lot of hungama in the hotel to get water( Of course, they are not used to Keralites who need to take bath every other hour!) .

But then, Darjeeling , one of the prime Indian hill stations , didn't disappoint when it came to it's beauty. I was taken to a Sunrise point early in the morning at 5 . The chilly wind was blowing hard against me . It was jam packed at the view point and I managed to capture a few clicks here and there by standing on top of cars :) . You can also see Mt. Kanchenjunga rising from the clouds . In totality, it's a sight that will definitely leave you mesmerized .




Darjeeling is so cold that you can't even dream of wearing a shorts and walking through the streets at any point of time post 3 in the afternoon. The town closes down by 7 and rises by 5!! Even the school timings are totally weird, they start around 6. 6??? GOODNESS ME! True, It's a part of West Bengal. But, the people are so disappointed with the government of WB and it's complete ignorance of Darjeeling, they have declared its own state of GORKHALAND . Some shops have gone to the extent of putting their address as " XY Stores, GOVT. OF GORKHALAND" . The roads are so very narrow and could collapse at any moment and trust me, am glad that am still alive. The government needs to something about it ASAP!

From Darjeeling, We went to Gangtok , the capital of Sikkim. In contrast, Gangtok is a much more organized, well planned and beautiful city. It isn't as cool as Darjeeling, but will still do to be going on with . There isn't much to see , except for M.G Market which is a mini Singapore in itself! But, about 50 kms from Gangtok is the NATHU LA PASS and at 30 kms, Tsomgo lake. Now, this is something you'll just relinquish so very much .

The roads upto Tsomgo lake are reminiscent of the Road of Death . Landslides could happen any moment and you could well get blocked on the road for days! It's so risky that you are actually required to take permission and produce your photographs before treading through this route .( For body identification, just in case ;)..lol! ) I was truly bewildered by the serenity of the place as much as I was by the driving skills of Sikkimese! You don't want to doze off even for a second because you might just miss out on some resplendent views . I'm sure the pictures attached here speaks for itself.





Tsomgo lake is a sacred lake of the Sikkimese surrounded on all of its sides by snow clad mountains . You can see yaks grazing through the snow . The view left me short of words . It was so enchanting all I could do was lie down on the snow and see heaven recreated there. I would recommend each and every Indian to visit Gangtok atleast once in life because it is a place whose beauty can't be given justice in a few words . It's to be seen,admired and enjoyed .

In all , the trip was not the best but then the bewitching and dazzling views will leave you with a picture of joy!

-VIK

Hidden Paradises

The moment we talk of trips , the only places that come to mind are the Ootys or the Kodaikanals or the Munnars . But , Kerala and Tamil Nadu are home to a million such paradises that remain unexplored.

It was a 3 day weekend and all my friends were home on holidays. So, on a warm Saturday afternoon , we decided to embark on exploration of one such paradise . We decided to take the route to Pollachi which is about 40 kms from Palakkad, a place that is much sought after for movie shooting. It's just about a 40 minute ride in car to Pollachi from here.

From there , We made our way to Valparai , a hill station located around 60 kms away from Pollachi. The best part are the roads which are immaculate in every way. The first drop off was at Aliyar. Though the usual tourist spot is the dam , we were hardly interested in it and so we kept the ride on. Just when we covered some distance and reached the back side of the dam , We found a location filled with rocks and sands with a long view of the dam . It was very serene and its a perfect place for photography. Small streams run through the sandy bottoms , small rocky pebbles lie along the sides of water, lovely trees and plants all around - It was picture perfect. Am attaching a few pictures of the place below.




After spending some time out here and taking pictures on the roads , we continued our joruney to Valparai . It was already 4 in the evening by then and we were doubtful about being able to reach the top. The hill ride consists of 40 hair pin bends and the roads are quite narrow. So, I'd suggest you not to do the travel with inexperienced drivers.

En route , there is a waterfall known as "Monkey falls" which gets its name from the fact that its surrounded by monkeys all around. There is hardly any water and the place stinks to the core. Though it's a very popular tourist destination, I strongly recommend not to try the falls . After that , We carried on the journey and reached Attakatti at about 5 PM. This place is nearly 30 kms off Valparai. There is an Inspection Bungalow which you can enter by taking permission from the Assistant Engineer.

The view from the Inspection Bungalow is breath taking. It's one of those locations where earth meets the sky . You get so lost in the beauty that you lose track of time. But, we had to return back home from this point since we had to get back home before night . The trip was great fun and it was one of those unforgettable days of my life.

So , to everyone - If you have 1 full day or a day and half with you, I'd suggest you take this trip.

Palakkad- Pollachi - Aliyar- Attakatti- Valparai- Athirapilly-Thrissur- Palakkad. Its definitely worth your time and money!

-VIKAS PLAKKOT

Anything to stop the Sachin Tendulkar wagon? :)

Well, Today is but a very fitting day to talk of the Master blaster , Isn't it? :) . Our Men in Blue are all set to give up their World No.1 position in a pompous manner . But , amidst the ruins , a man stood tall , if not by height,but by gameplay- Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar ,indeed.

Whenever I think of him, the first words that come to my mind are the ones Tony Greig spoke when the man lofted Damien Fleming for a six back over his head during the Sharjah Sandstorm .. He said " What a player! What a wonderful player!" .
20 long years. 30,000+ runs. 91 tons. Almost every single batting record in cricket in his kitty. Can a man achieve more?



Today, during telecast of the Indo-SA test, there was a very very interesting conversation between Laxman Sivaramakrishnan and Darryl Cullinan. They were arguing on who is better: Sachin Tendulkar or Ricky Ponting? It went on like this.
Siva: Thats no.46. 3 centuries in 3 tests. Looks like Sachin is running away from Ponting.
Cullinan: Well, Siva, I have a doubt: Who do you think is the better player considering the impact they have had on their teams?
Siva: Sachin !
Cullinan: Look at it. When Ponting got his 1st century, Sachin had 11. Since then , Sachin has got 35 and Ponting has got 38. Who do u think is better ?
Siva: *smiles* Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
Cullinan: Stop being objective. Why would you say so?
Siva: 20 years. No controversies. 30,000 runs and 91 tons. What more do u ask?
Cullinan: Keep the off field things away!
Siva: How can I? A cricketer is a gentleman's game and Sachin is the gentleman here :) . Talk of being a complete cricketer. Sachin can bowl well- has more than a 100 wickets to his credit. He fields quite well too.

That shut Cullinan's mouth up. Well, Nobody could have said it better. Well, In India, you don't ask who is the better , ever .. cos there is only one answer: Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar .

Sachin's five best knocks , ever :)

1. 136 vs Pakistan , Chennai, 1999 .

A bowling attack that boasts of Wasim, Waqar and Saqlain. Almost every reliable batsman back in the pavilion and the team is tottering at 80 for 5 on a fifth day pitch needing nearly another 200 to win. Sachin plays an innings built on sheer mental strength after he succumbs to back pain mid way. He has to stamp his back after each and every delivery , but as always, he stands tall . Though he couldn't take his team to victory , This has to be his best ever.

2. 140* vs Kenya , Bristol, 1999.

The world Cup is on . Sachin's father passes away and he has to return home. For once in life, he puts cricket behind . In his absence , India lose to Zimbabwe. His family urges him to go back and he obeys, as always. He wore thick black glasses to hide those tears when he came to England. Then, We witnessed an innings of complete dominance. Yes, it was Kenya , but the moment was one that can't ever be forgotten. When he completes his 100, he removes his helmet- looks up to the sky and says "Thank you dad" . Tears roll out from my eyes , and the one billion others watching.

3. 141 vs Australia , Sharjah, 1998

Well, this one better be left without descriptions :) . I'm sure anybody who knows the C of Cricket would know how huge this one was ..

4. 175 vs Australia, Hyderabad, 2009.

Sachin has completed 20 years of cricket. India needs a mammoth 350 to win to stay put in the series on home soil. The big names lose their way and Sachin is left alone. In Raina , he finds a partner . What followed is now history.

5. 103* vs England , Chennai, 2008

The nation is jolted by the attack on Mumbai. Touring England team leaves the country cutting short the ODI series and returns for a test series. Chasing in the fourth innings , India need a 370 to win .. and Sachin in the company of Yuvraj steers his team to one of Indias finest wins ever. This will be remembered for two things: One, He silenced his critics who spoke of his match winning abilities . Two, He dedicated it to the city of Mumbai and we know how important it was to lift the spirits of a country that was shaken by the pitiful attacks.

Like they say, If Cricket is a religion then Sachin is GOD . To me, He is GOD :)

-VIKAS PLAKKOT

Save our Tigers.

Along with WWF-India , Aircel has launched a new campaign "Save our Tigers" which aims at bringing to light the problems faced by the population of the national animal of India which is ever so declining. It is meant to spread awareness about the serious threat the Tigers are facing through means such as blogging , twittering , facebook forums etc .. and so here am , doing my bit.

Being an avid lover of animals, It's very disheartening to know that there has been a non negligible amount of decrease in the number of tigers. Way back in the 1970s, When the Project Tiger was launched by the Govt. of India, the population of the tigers were as low as 1200. But , the successful project managed to rocket it upto the 3500 mark during the early 90s only to see it plummeting back to 1411 in 2008. It's there for us to see that a genuine effort can do wonders as did Project Tiger.



Recently , There was a drastic drop in the Rhino population in the Kaziranga National Park which happened due to the killing down of those Rhinos which encroached into human habitats. But , why did they? It's only because we moved into theirs leaving them with no option but to come running into ours. This is not the kind of situation that should be prevailing in a country like India , which even the USA has tipped off to be a superpower in few years time.

So, friends .. Do your bit. Tell everyone you know about it. Raise your voice , be it through any medium - just a forwarded msg , just a blog post, just a status update on facebook, just tweeting , doesn't matter how. But make sure you put that slightest bit of effort you can for such a noble cause.

Let's join hands in saving the pride of our country- Let's save our Tigers.

Oh Btw, Stripey (pictured) is so damn cute :) :)

-VIKAS PLAKKOT.

Big Fat Rules.

Note that all names are fictional :)

Scene 1. Act 1.

Location: Rajagiri "SCHOOL" of Engineering and Tech , Kochi

Occasion: Abhiyanthriki '08 or '09. Who cares. So called Inter-college fest.

Security: Who are you? Where are u from? You can't go in!
Me: I've come for an event. This is my college ID.
Sec : No, but you can't go in today. I've got orders
Rajagirian friend: They are with me . You can let them in.
Sec: No No! Nahin ho sakta! Mujhe orders mila hain! chale jaao!

What follows? We stand outside waiting for our participation certificates to be delivered at the gates. Hospitality , I say.

Scene 2. Act 1.

Location: Amrita "SCHOOL" of Engineering and Tech or whatever , Those hills near CBE.

Occasion: Sem End . Vacation start. Me and V out to pick our friend up.

Sec: Yes? You're not parents. You can't go in.
V: We need to pick him up. His parents can't come. So we came.
Sec: No, But I can't let students in .
V: The sem is over. It's take him back home. There are luggages too.
Sec: No chance . It's not possible . Ask your friend to call.

* Insert desperate messaging. My friend calls up the sec *

Bullu: I'm Bullu. s5 cse. Please let them in. They came to pick me up.
Sec: No . Ask permission from your warden. Ask him to call here and tell that u've got permission.

* 10 minutes pass by . Phone rings at sec *

Warden: Let Bullu's friends in.
Sec: Sir.
Sec( calling us out) : You may go in. Collect a signed letter from warden when you return.

* Insert the godly abuses from me and V*

Scene 3. Act 1.

Location:Main Gates, Nehru College of Engineering and Research(God knows on what!) Centre , PIMP-adi.

Occassion: Bloom ,Ver 7.0 "INTER COLLEGIATE" fest. Me and J went to participate and watch.

Sec: Do you have a pass?
Me: Yes (shows a 50 re pass issued by our friend).
Sec: These are coupons. I asked for a pass.
Me and friend exchanges looks.
Me: Our friend studies here. STK , S5 IT.
Sec: Ask her to bring pass
Me: But then what about this? What is this?
Sec: This is just a coupon. Not pass.

* WTF. Phone calls . She's not in a position to come. Sends someone else *
New guy: They are my friends . Can you let them in.
Sec: PASS? Do u have a PASS?
New guy: No.

*He exits. We still wait. 45 minutes pass by*

J: Isnt this an inter college fest? Why not letting us in then?
Sec: No no! Pass! Pass!

*Mutters abuses in low voice. STK's mom comes.

Sec: Do you have a pass?
Aunt: No. My daughter studies here. STK S5 IT. She is performing . Came to see that.
Sec: No! PASS! PASS!!!!

Aunt drops the plan and decides to try the other gate when the sec suddenly gets this sudden change of mind and lets her in.

Aunt: Those kids are with us. Let them in too.
Sec: No, Thats not possible. They need a pass.
J tries frantically. No hopes. Gets pissed and bugged . Shouts , Abuses. Takes the car, turns it around .. and we return home .

Well, They say we learn from experiences. So , Screw me for not having learnt from two that these privately run engineering colleges are out to achieve the "most disciplined" status . Wonder if putting stick to the arses of 20 year olds paves way to creating ENGINEERS or not. What was worse ? The inmates of the abaddon were themselves pleading their way to the security staff to let them go out to eat. LoL. They call it a "FEST". :) .. One thing these fests have done to me : It's made me fall mad in love with my college, where I am a part of the system , where I stand to have a say and not just the PROs and security guards. For that type of education, I could just sit home and get monitored by my parents.

Ok so what's the point I'm trying to make?

1. Never EVER attend the fests of a private run engg. college.They are just meant to be the respite day for the inmates .

2. Never tell a guy from a govt. college, if you are from a private one, that life is so much fun out there. FUN is something you are never gonna see.

3. To those fucking retards who are running these instis, if you ever read this, It's not one of your god forsaken colleges that have sponsored the education of the people sitting at the helm of organisations like ISRO, HPCL , BPCL, RBI etc. It is OURS. So, throw off the attitude.

4. You wanna see what a fest is like? Welcome to the real ones - Where? Yes, in those colleges which have a "college" atleast in their name . For us , "Athithi Devo Bhava"

5. To those parents who try to show off that their daughters/sons are studying in one of these instis, Get a LIFE! You have just sent your children to walk down the ladder of life.

6. Rules they say are meant to be broken , but boy.. They aren't. Not in these places atleast. :)

- VIKAS PLAKKOT