Ziplining

Ziplining at Whister (around 2-3 hours from Vancouver)

The feeling that I can't describe. One of so different experience I had in last 20 years of my existence on this planet.

When I was just about to go - All I felt was fear !

Once you are in air - All you feel is freedom !

Those wonderful seconds of life were precious.

Going in air at 80km/hr and about 20 stories height.Risk is your life ! May be it was moment I saw life so closely.

Feeling was too much !

Life is adventure. I guess this was once in lifetime experience. I even paid a lot for this trill ~ may be almost equivalent sum to fly from kashmir to kanyakumari, but was happy because the money was even raised for some social cause. Our guide to this brave new adventure was some English Lady. She talked of sustainability of environment. One point she told me was that powerful and touching to me that I can't even forget today - months later. " We should talk of sustainability, but that should not lead poor to hunger" Clearly, message she meant was we should take care of future generation ..but first we need to better help present generation (millions even can't afford food to eat). The Ecotour part of the tour was informative and interesting and also inspirational.

Anyway, Ziplining was an amazing experience. I would recommend for everyone. Given a chance I wanna have this ride again. Gliding miles in sky from platform to platform; with scenic beauty so amazing and few suspension bridges in between. It was fun, we had seasons in the sun.

Canada Day

Canada Day is like a sort of Independence Day for Canada.

1 July is more like Happy Birthday of Canada.

On this wonderful day, we roamed on the streets of Vancouver. The best time to learn more about Canadian culture. Canadians are really passionate for celebrating this day. I feel an average Canadians is more proud of his/her nation. The zeal and passion in the eyes of locals is fantastic.

Free Flags !

Parade was not like routine formal parades, but really full of energy and passion. These people are really crazy ! Local Buses or Countries heads ... Punjabi people to Chinese stuff ... Policeman to Businessmen...were dancing on this occasion. Streets were that crowded ..like entire Vancouver has came together and gone part of celebration. Street magicians to Night Fireworks !
I don't have much words to express, but the attached clip will give you some Idea.

Trip to Kapshi Village

Last semester we went for a Village trip to place called Kapshi.

Kapshi is situated in the Satara district of Maharashtra. Due to some of sustainability projects accomplished there, its been rated as Model village of India.

The impression of being a role model and proximity to IIT Bombay were some of factors which influenced us to visit this village. By the way, a lot can be learned from any village across length and breath of country . We hired two buses from iitb and were all set for destination.

For way upstream journey, I grabbed a seat next to professor and of-course window seat :)

We were quite lucky to have an Alumni from IITb with us ~ a iitian, than a degree from MIT and job in silicon valley.

This was my 1st trip more south of India than Mumbai. Pune-Mumbai highway is really superb. I wonder how they constructed that long tunnels. We had breakfast at some place between pune-mumbai. After travelling for around 6 hours, we reached Kapshi by 1 in noon.

At first, villagers were looking as if some Aleins have landed from top. Marathi is the medium of tongue in villages and most of us were just slaves of English and our Hindi. Some villagers were comfortable with Hindi. As India is so diverse a place .. language barrier will always exit.

Village was clean. I had a different default feeling in my brain, but things were exactly opposite. I do realized that living in cities how much as we depended on villages. We .. Mumbaikars enjoys at the cost of these villages. How complex is life being in metros and how simple and sweat its there in villages.

We decided to have our lunch in the shades of an old big tree. To get more feel of place, we decided to grab a place near buffalo's rest place. Village was remote with not even any mobile network and urban luxuries. I was afraid if something went wrong, it may distrupt the entire Trip. Something did happened. We got over lunch spoiled. Nothing was more surprising than this. Anyway, I was unanswerable to many. All we had, was a first aid box if some one went ill. Else we can enjoy Emle and dozen other arbit fruits and seeds across the village. Emle ka buta, berika ped !

Vaibhav, one of villagers guided us at Kapshi. He told of stories that has flown the life of villages over years. Stories of flood ! Stories of drought ! Stories of pain ! Stories of joy !

Villagers are quite friendly people. I wonder still such a level of humanity exists. We learned how villagers constructed dams and other stuff without any government help. How they are taking a step ahead for becoming sustainable on there own.

Perhaps, I can't recall many of things right now. Being 180 degree away on this lovely planet, still the memories of kapshi flashes every now and than in my mind.

The village was also linked much with Art of Living !. Perhaps, I don't have very much faith on this foundation, neither I do have any harsh feelings too. I am bit unclear for the role of Art of Living in development of village. I don't wanna comment any more on it now.

It was quite sunny day. Hot Sun ! Empty stomach's ! .. Well how can I explain reactions?

Villagers arranged for our dinner. At last around 9 pm, the simple and sweat dishes which are used on everyday basis was served to us. At least for me, it was very different from normal stuff we have in hostels. Frankly, I even could not eat much. Well I am quite odd. Really, food was good and many enjoyed the same.

After we filled our stomach, the villagers organised a satsang programme. Most of us were damn tired. Satsang was a means of brings people together and connecting with villagers and their culture. To manage a big sleeping place of 100 was quite difficult. Every villager volunteered to arrange night stay of 2-3 students. This way the bond of love and affection was strengthened. I wonder how many mumbaikars will volunteer to help some poor villager if he wishes for a Mumbai Trip.

The sky was clear as near been in metro's. I was much out of energy and vomited. It was damn cold at night. To add some fun - there is a Apple Story behind the scene ! If some one want to know ..he/she can ping me

I don't wanna write that ... it was one of some stupid things I ever did in life .. perhaps there are a lot here in Canada too. Do you know how it feels like to eat a apple from a girl's stolen/misplaced bag !!

Next day !!!!!!

Breakfast and stories from village people. This time we went miles in the fields of India. We were told that Art of Living was responsible for prosperity of this village. Well, I see things in different lights. Anyway, I am not much social person. It was nice to see no signs of caste system. Perhaps 1-2 day trip is much less to know the inside stories. I am a straight forward person and is not satisfied with what seems fulfilling to most others.

Trip was Okay. But I wonder what finally the purpose behind was. We did nothing great in village. Perhaps we would have happily stayed in college for the weekend, enjoyed a couple of movies or circled Powai Lake. At Kapshi, we were just some burden on village people. It would have been quite difficult for an average villager to afford our dinner, breakfast and night accommodation. All we did in return was a lump-sum contribution of around ~ 10k. I wonder how much of that amount will actually result in changing life of an ordinary villager.

I don't feel this is only expected out of people publicly labeled "Best Brains of the country”. Hundred people put together can't do anything worth for a village in 2 days!

Well many questions pops up my mind.

May be there was no other choice. But what else better could have we done ... I don't have an answer... may be donated a computer for village or what around a washing machine or music player!

I would appreciate if someone can tell me what all I should do, if i am been to a village again. I can't go farming. Even if I start, I will only end up causing chaos in some fields. Learning Indian culture, lifestyle.. blah blah always counts.... but just these can't convenience me.

On our journey back, I discussed these unanswered questions to one of my friend. All I heard were low sounds. That friend perhaps even got conditioned to never visit a village again. That got reflected in final feedback. Writes "We saw a lot and learnt a lot. But I still don't understand what I am going to do with this knowledge. For most of us this was just a joy trip. It is not like we are even going to go back and help either Kapshi or any other village to develop further. I feel that instead of spending so much money in going so far away and then doing nothing, it would be better if we did something to help people in or near Mumbai. There are many slums within Mumbai. The money could be better spent by helping these people. Also,if we do have to go far away, then instead of taking so many students,it would be better to take a few and use the remaining money to make some solid contribution to the village."

I am out of words now.

There were many plus points for visit too.

Abhi ke liye itna hi .... will write more in tym to come !

June of 2010

Journey of Miles ... continues !

the maze of moments

You Gotta Be Here !

June1

· Evening with a Canadian family

· Played piano for 1st time in life! - But All I hear are low sounds

· Listened to experience of a Canadian Soldier who

had been to Afghanistan

June2

· Nothing much

June5

· Walked 16km in the shades of lynn Valley -

I walk to the horizon, And there I find another

June6

· Hiked Grouse Mountain - Highest point in Vancouver !

· How it feels through clouds !

June12

· Lukha Saturday

June13

· Went Jug Island. - The shells upon the warm sands

How I run to the other side of island !

June14

· Attended 19 presentations in 10hrs.
Well presentations were good but I couldn't keep myself awake.

June15

· Presentation Workshop

It was really good one

June16

· Industrial Tour to airG – a mobile social networking company

· Networking Workshop

June17

· Networking Reception

June18

· Visited EA Games {Electronic Arts}
What a Company!Even has space for employee’s dogs to roam about.Barber and football court too!

Slept in 1hr Presentation

· New Shoes - Most costly ever purchased!

June19

· This Weekend @ Whistler [ it’s situated 2 hours north of Vancouver ]

· Missed Bungee

· Missed Peak2Peak

June20

· @ Whistler

· Ziplining at 80km/hr - Longest Zip Trek in Canada

· Miles in the sky - Gondola Ride, a breathtaking, 4.4-kilometre journey.

Longest unsupported span, Highest of its kind above the valley floor, the longest continuous lift system on the globe

· Over the roads of NFS most wanted.

June22

· Slept for entire day

· Evening @ Punjabi Market

June26

· Triggered fire alarm of entire building at 5 am. :)

Do you know who it feels to wake up every one on a lazy Saturday morning?

· Miles towards Tofino [it's about 7 hrs from Vancouver ]

· Ferry Joy Ride - In motion on the ocean

· Miles on roads below sea level - I took the turn and turned to

· Camping near beach on a rainy night

· Barbecue

June27

@ Tofino

· Cox and Long Beach

· Pacific Ocean [ West coast of Canada, I guess you can't go more west in Canada than this ]

· Car Journey touching 200km/hr speed !

· Ferry Ride

· Back to Vancouver

June28

· Purchased iphone 3G 16GB! I wonder if I would ever purchase such a piece of technological marvel again.

June29

· Realized that will have to work hard.

June30

· Booked Tickets and Tickets

Hope that irctc.in will be peaceful one day

Amidst of all that some feeling haunts me every now and than.

How far you are from home ?

I go there I'll lose my way