That thing they call HAPPINESS

As I woke up with a smile in the morning, I noticed that I was visibly happy most part of the day. I sat wondering what is it that makes me happy, makes me smile. Often do I feel this way, but its not everyday that i feel this bliss, not everyday that I feel so much at peace with myself. Such a simple question and yet an nonexistent answer. The day I end up answering it, My life would be Utopian!

Come to think of it, I find my happiness in the watching the rising sun along the sea shore, watching the setting sun, the waves! I find it in silence, in solitude, in loneliness, in my freedom to say no and more importantly to say yes! I find happiness in my will, my resolve, in good food, in a country song or in a good book.

I find it in a warm smile, a passionate kiss, a hot cup of coffee, a heartfelt compliment from someone, in watching the stars, deciphering the full moon, staring at the crescent, on a cold winter morning or the unusual showers. I find happiness in a cup of vanilla icecream, the sleep after a hard day work or with the newspaper in the loo :)

At the end of the day, it is what you choose. I am happy if I choose to be so. Happiness comprises of such minute fractions and memories of joy. A kind look or a forgotten act of charity and other such countless infinitesimal pleasurable feelings constitute my happiness.!

As I look back at the happiest moments of my life, strangely its not the cracking the IITs and IIMs that I remember. Its the memories of my family, my friends, the games i played as a kid, time spent with my family that hit me back! Am I surprised? No!!

A smile on someones face because of me is what gives me the greatest joy...

Of Forests, Watch towers and Elephants!

Dudwa Wildlife Sanctuary - November 30th, 2009

Dudwa is synonymous with strolls in the forest and solitude. Calm, peaceful and pleasant.

The first trip out of IIM L, Khadu, Penguin, Sudeep, Gogo, Shaggy, Ghasi and myself, we found our recluse at the Dudwa WLS on the border of Nepal. 238 Kms from Lucknow, the journey took us roughly 5 hours by a Qualis. Thanks to Sudeep, We booked our rooms at the Tharu huts to avoid any accommodation hassles. We started from the campus at 2.30 and reached the camp at 7.30 in the night. Breaking away from the monotony of life we got accustomed to, most of the journey was spent singing songs and eating ganna.

The first night at this place was mostly fun & frolic. Signature, Kingfisher, Caste, Religion, India and Politics all came in at the same time and provided some profound discussions till 4 in the night. The next morning, we took our vehicle and went out for a stroll in the forest. The gates are open only between 7-10 in the morning and again from 2-5 in the afternoon. After a jolly ride through the absolute green, we decided to go to Nepal which is a 15 km drive from the camp.

Unfortunately some Maoists bombed the border village of Nepal and hence we could not go much on the inside. However, we did buy certain souvenirs in the local market. Filled with shawls, clothes, perfumes and a lot more genuinely fake stuff, the market was bustling with activity. There was a watch tower at one end of the camp which provided a great view from the top. We spent a lot of time chatting away at the top! The night was spent mostly playing killer and mafia, games taught to us by shaggy. We never thought playing these games would be so much fun.

We managed to get hold of elephants for a ride in the forest on the final day. A slow and three hour long ride amidst the trees was a splendid experience.

Total distance: 550 kms
Time: 2 days
Cost: about Rs. 2000

The Roads taken - 2009

Here is what I had written exactly an year ago - Roads taken 2008

An year down, I see in retrospect and it hasn't been that bad really!
I had my share of travels and here is the short list.

Jan - Road trip - Hyderabad - Horsley hills - Talakona - Hyderabad. A total of 1350 kms in 2 days and in 2 cars. A nights' sleep in the open on a hill in sleeping bags!

March - Bangalore

May - After about 5 months of being busy with 'cat prep' and 'interview' and what-nots, The drought was ended with an awesome road trip to Kerala. Again 2300 kms in 7 days.. Slept on railway platforms, in tea plantations, trekked in Wayanad, Rode the beaches of Kasargod and saw the beauty of Agumbe and Hampi

June - Yet another month of immense travel. This time my travels took me west to Germany, Switzerland and France. Mesmerized by the meadows of Switzerland, the Autobahn of Germany and the Eiffel tower of Paris, This would be one trip that I am not going to forget

Followed it up with a road trip to Rajahmundry and Kakinada.. With roads like those.. it was pure driving pleasure

December - Ended it up with a trip up north to Dudwa wild life sanctuary on the border of Nepal. 2 days .. nothing but the forests and us!

Wanderlust Prevails ..

Another year come and gone..

As a principle, I hate Newyears and Bdays and any other so called days that attract too much attention and hype. I somehow fail to share the same joy with which others prepare, plan and proceed to execute the 'Most important day of my life' every new years eve.

So whats the big deal?

You get an year older..
You get together and drink with your friends (after paying 1500 for the couple entry) which otherwise you would normally do at home anyway..
Contrary to my opinions, You have an unnecessary pressure and being good and doing good on the first day of the year
You have resolutions to take and mull over those that you have broken
There is this notion that you have to smile, look good and most importantly, Look Happy!
You notice extraordinary amounts of attention by papers, media and people in general. Guess its just good business

For me all these days are just another day that has come and gone
I rather have fun when there is no pressure to have fun
This pressure and this expectation is probably what causes my indifference

P.S. My MBA is not to be blamed

and so it ended...

2 months of eternal tension, versions of SOPs, a Mumbai trip, an ITC holiday and an interview later... Its finally over. I came back happy elated and overwhelmed.

I am an Aditya Birla Scholar :)

The life at Hell

3 months into the place and finally free time. Time to watch movies, to do nothing explore the city and most importantly SLEEP.

Now a little bit more about my life:
From the day I entered Hell, I chose to keep myself busy.
committees, clubs, index, projects, proposals, CVs, Disha, HR Forms, Schols, Sports, Classes, Quizzes, KFC, Dominoes, Competitions were the only thing that I could hear.
Everyone here has got be an A++ personality. Now that means is -

• You run to your classes every day because you inevitably get up 4 minutes late
• You get up 4 minutes late because of you slept 30 mins late last night trying to meet the deadline for the economics project.
• You run to the mess so that you can finish food ultra fast so as not to waste time. Of course there are time when you manage to miss it all together because there is 'no time'.
• You always wash your clothes a week late because there was something or the other
• You miss your road trip as you were busy with meetings last week
• You try to do as much as possible in as little time

What I have essentially done after reaching this place is that I have shut myself from the world out there. I stopped thinking about anything else. About the world out there, about others, about those I love, about myself. Now this technique worked so long as I was busy. For the last one week, I was free, free enough to sleep 8 hours a day, free enough to let my mind wander beyond horizons, free enough to think of all those that I constantly endeavored to push out of my mind.

I know I am safe so long as I am here. But what next. I see no life. Not one which I associate with the word Happiness!! :)

Conquering the Chembra peak

One of the best aspects of the road trip to Kerala has been the trek up to the top of the Chembra peak, the highest peak of Wayanad district in Kerala. Located at 2100M above sea level, this is one of those moderate difficulty ones. Filled with scenic view of the Wayanad ghats and also with a heart shaped lake at the top of the hill, this trek is a must do for all those adventure lovers.

Cloud covered most of the time, the peak is a delight to watch. It took us a grueling 2 hours 15 minutes to reach the peak which included 4 liters of water among three of us and innumerable breaks on the way. The base of the trek starts through tea plantations and then proceeds through hills and plains that reminds of the scenes from Lord of the rings.

The top was cloud covered most of the time with a strong chill wind that blows. The top overlooks a valley to either of its sides and the Wayanad ghats to the other side. Owing to the slippery conditions, the descent was as tough as the ascent. The best time to do this trek though is Jan - Feb when people are actually allowed to camp. The charges for the trek is Rs 500 per group which can be upto 10.



Chembra peak is located about 7 kms off the road from Meppadi, which lies along the way from Sultan Bathery to Vythiri both which are hill stations in Wayanad. The climb to the ascent is another 4 kms from the base. One must be cautious with leeches that are common along the trek.