AbdullapurMet Trek
05 Sep 2010 7 Comments
in Hyderabad, Travel @ Adventure Tags: Abdullapurmet Trek, Adventure, GHAC, Hyderabad, Trekking
Man, the alarm was not soothing but rather cruel at 5.00A.M in the morning but had to get up. Not much later got a call from Bharath ” Do you want to go? It rained badly yesterday”. I don’t know how I could manage to say, ” Let’s go, at least we will meet people” .
Out of the comfort of the home reached the meeting point “Koti Women’s college Gate” by 5.45 sharp as was ordered by Sukumar, our Organizer. There were few others waiting on the other side of the road. but there was no Sukumar, nor Padmaja. but before I could get any more sharp and angry almost everyone arrived by 6.00A.M blunt. We started off in the 4 wheelers after parking our bikes before Haridwar hotel. Padmaja was not coming as her father was not feeling well. So we started off in Hari’s Scorpio microHybrid.
Abdullapurmet is a group of small hillocks on the NH9 on the way to Vijayawada near Ramoji Film City. It is in fact very near to the Outer Ring Road which is in construction. (I don’t know what they will call the next Ring road, no prizes for the guesses). There was a nice BT road leading to the foot of the hillock, thanks to the real estate ventures. This is the first time GHAC is conducting a trek here and we are the first ones which makes it really most interesting and exciting.
We parked our vehicles and had the customary introduction, There were software victims, addicts, professionals,.. what ever you want to call them, a doctor, fashion Designer, consultant, ad woman. So started off. It was cloudy but not raining luckily. The first thing was to conquer the first hillock. There was excitement to find new routes to the top. we had to lift ourselves through the narrow opening between two rocks.
Common Buddy (courtesy: Vamshi)
There was lot of advices in the air around from the guys who made it to the top, a feeling of ” Can I make it” in the faces down. It was a while before everyone was helped to the top. Wow! it was great team work and spirit of adventure. Then we had some pictures clicked on top of the hillock.
Conquered! The First Summit (courtesy: Gautam Narain)
Happiness(Anand) on the Peak (courtesy: Gautam Narain)
Then we saw a peacock on top of another hill, all inviting with its fully stretched feathers. There was greenery all round thanks to the consistent rains in Hyderabad. And our next destination was a bigger hillock towards our right. It was already 8 and we stopped to break our fast. There were biscuits, chudwa, Anshu’s Sandwiches (she prepared them in the morning!), haldiram stuff, and Dates! I too had some dates! Then we were again on our way. We did not know how to make it to the top. All the existing routes, if any, might have been covered by the grass and other shrubs.
We were greeted by huge boulders, steep and no easy path to the top. we split into two groups and started our exploring. There was a small group of bees and Hari was bit on his hand. That was the first moment when the spirits were little down. But thanks to our self styled Manager Anshu Gemini and Hari we found a little hope. There was a small crack between two rocks. I was a little apprehensive about going through it as there may be snakes or monkeys inside. But Anshu went through it, I followed . Anshu could get to the bottom of the small opening to the top. After seeing her courage and spirit, whatever resistance to accepting her as Manager was gone. Under her direction I could lift myself through the opening and made through it. I saw light! Wow! I could not describe my feeling. Anshu made it. It was her find.
The way to the top (courtesy: Naresh)
Slowly everyone followed. Someone from the bottom asked why do we have to do this? Why are we on this trek? Other group with Sukumar go to the top from other difficult way. Wow, the wind was soothing and inviting. Wait, Let me take a deep breathe. How stupid we are, leaving these pleasures we are content living cramped spaces.
We could see the Ramoji Film City’s entrance from the top, thank God it is on the other side of the road. Other we know what would have happened to this hillock. There were some pink apartments to the far South. We climbed to the top of this hill. Took some pictures.
On the Top finally!(courtesy: Gautam Narain)
We got down in the direction of our cars. The descent was not that adventurous and boring to Anshu. We got down under the guidance and warnings “slippery rocks, sharp turn, Its steep” of Bharath. After what we have done those were not warnings!
There was this lovely grass swaying to the tune of the wind which we could not hear or comprehend.
Grass Dance (courtesy: Gautam Narain)
It was a great trip! The hill was all welcoming. The overnight rain and the ones before erased all the previous trails and paths and we had to start new. We tried our level best not to leave any impressions on the way. No littering was done but some centipedes were crushed under our shoes, the grass was grounded but they did not complain. Our Trek to identify with our own nature – Nature was more than expected. Above all, the guys and gals were a great company. There were complaints of lack of variety in the snacks! haha.
Let me remember the names. Sukumar, Hari and his better half, Bharat, Gautam, Anshu, Anusha, Lavanya, Haritha, Anand, Gautham, Vamshi, Srikanth, Naresh, again Naresh, Vimal, Shri, Babu. Sorry who’s 19 and 20?
Thanks Sukumar and GHAC! It was real fun.
(Images Courtesy: Gautam Narain, Naresh, Vamshi)
Moulali Trek
23 Mar 2010 2 Comments
in Hyderabad Tags: Hyderabad, Moulali Hillock, Trekking
Everyone assembled at the foot of the famous Moulali Steps on the morning of last Saturday. The trek did not appear promising as there were well laid steps to the top of the Moulali Durgah Hillock. But once the Organizer Padmaja arrived, we group of 21 started climbing the stairs. Some like me out of sheer excitement found their own way. I forgot to mention the little girl who was part of this trek – Meghana who has just completed U.K.G and going to First class, came along with her Father. She already bought books for first class so she is in First now. Any questions? And there was Anchal Gandhi who was moving up in his own way had many of his so called “Last photograph”.
As we climbed to the top, it was nice feeling. I don’t know what makes us feel great looking at things from top.
We could see, feel the Sun rising from behind the clouds.
There were introductions and we headed for the descent on the other side of the hill. I thought we are going down and the trek is over. But wait there was much more!
We climbed back which was really easy and I, along with few, was running upwards. Three more trekkers joined who were late. And one more such descent and ascent. Again the same thought ” the trek was over. Do I have to say to wait?
We all went to the other side of the hill and went for the trek. The real trek! Removed the shoes, First time it didn’t work, I slipped. There was Nataraj encouraging from the top. Before me was Meghana who successfully completed the first part. I too did it!
Something in me was asking for more! There I was heading stranded, I could not go further and I my legs were trembling. I somehow got back and with the help of Subba Rao (Meghana’s father) I could finish the second climb. Meghana and Srivalli were already there! Everyone followed and it was really great experience.
Memorable thing was Meghana clapping without making sound as each one finished the trek.
Image source: http://cid-6f578843fd095913.skydrive.live.com/play.aspx/Maulali%20trek?ref=1%22
And Virginia Wang, who hails from USA and staying in Vijayawada, was speaking in bits of telugu ” Nee peru emti” Saying about Rosaiah’s famous statement ” Naa chetulo emi ledu” . Someone asked about which side she is Telangana or Samaikya Andhra.
She says ” If goons from Telangana come to her, she is going to say “ Jai Telangana” and if goons from other side come she is going to say ” Samaikya Andhra” . Do we have a choice?
Thanks everyone for making this a memorable one.
More Photos: http://meetup.ghac.in/photos/858311/
Read more at: http://bharathreddyt.in/2010/03/trekking-trip-to-maula-ali-dargah/
What? On The Same!
13 Feb 2010 4 Comments
in Hyderabad, Uncategorized Tags: Design, Hyderabad, IT, OUtsourcing, The same
I did fasting yesterday and I am really surprised of the ! But I drank coffee yesterday and I want to inform you of the same!
We read a lot of same stuff in the mails like the one from onsite co-ordinators ” I have observed a defect in the design, and I am attaching a PPt on the same! ”
Really we are in awe for this simple word ” same” . But do we really need to use it in the above sentence. This is twisting the already confusing sentences.
If you write to your plumber ( supposing they are hi-tech now) like this
” My bathroom tap is leaking and I want you to repair the same.”
If repairing the bathroom tap is only concern, then the plumber is going to repair the same tap in your house. If you omit “the same” from your mail he is not going to repair the tap of your neighbor. Even if you get the bill you are not going to pay it.
” Dear Same sir, we have repaired the tap of your neighbor as you have not mentioned to repair “the same”. Please pay us on the same” .
I did not know how this got started (using the word same) but sometimes it is needed when we read the mails in half sleep.
” I have observed a defect in the design,…..and attached a PPT..”
What PPT?
“on the Sameeeeeee! “
ahhhh, defect in the design. I got it, I got it.
Next one more mail comes-
” This is regarding the same I wrote yesterday. Did you rectify the same?”
The reply-
” You did not asked to rectify the design. We did not do the same“
One more mail on the same -
“This is third mail on the same! Why would I make a PPT on the same and send you. You are supposed to rectify (the same). I would have done it faster than making a PPT and send work to you guys in Hyderabad.”
The final reply..
” Then do it there (in whatever onsite location you are)”
If we remove the word “the same” from all the above sentences they still make a lot of sense. We have many times faced this type of redundancies in the mails only to add confusion. Always the best thing is capture the content of the mail in the subject and that would really make a lot of difference to the communication, sorting the mails . We did not have to read “the same”s repeatedly.
If you have not got bored reading this far, your comments on the same! please
We are Raped! Did we ask for it?
15 Dec 2009 1 Comment
in Hyderabad, Politics, Women Tags: AP, COngress Minister Goa, Freedom, Goa, Hyderabad, John Fernandes, Politics, Rape Victims, Russian Women Rape, Shantaram Naik, Telangana, Tourism
30 NOV 2009: The students in OU have peacefully assembled to express their support to Telangana statehood. The police entered the Campus, surrounded the students, chased and beat them cruelly.
A APSRTC bus heading towards its destination was stopped by the protestors and all the passengers were forced to disembark and before all its patrons, the doors and windows of the bus were torn and glasses broken. It was humiliated. It was followed by torching it with petrol. Ten more buses were reported to be damaged in Telangana due to the protests by TRS and Students.
1 DEC 2009, GOA: A 25 year old Russian woman was raped by the local politician, John Fernandes in his car after physically assaulting her. She lodged a complaint with the police and was harassed by the police to withdraw the complaint. The Politicians tried to cover it up under the mat. They are worried about the image of Goa ahead of the tourist season.
1 DEC 2009: More students beaten, many more buildings and private vehicles were damaged, windows broken, more buses were torched. More Bandhs, more property losses, closures, more rapes…
These violations are happening in broad day light and we stand their spectators. Some deranged people dictate terms, pass the rules, call for bandhs, force to shut down the businesses, schools, lathi-charge the students, rape the women..
It is not the buses which which are damaged but our right to freedom, it is not the glasses which are broken but our right to stand by our human values, It is not the students those are beaten, but our Freedom of Expression, It is not the Russian woman who was raped, but our right to Existence.
The buses were damaged by the same people who travelled by them, the buildings and shopping malls were damaged by the people who come there to live, do shopping. The students and people were beaten by the police who are meant to protect them. The Russian woman was raped by the Goan who posed as a friend and to drop her. But the Congress MP from Goa, Shantaram Naik says that “THE WOMAN ASKED FOR IT………”
YSR amar Rahe
03 Sep 2009 Leave a Comment
A sad and abrupt end of one of the charismatic leader from Andhra. A long search for the where abouts of YSR came to an abrupt end with the aircraft from Indian airforce discovering the crash site. There are many, but credible rumours that YSR helicopter has crashed and he is no more within 3 hours after the accident. But the state government resorted to delaying tactics in view of the Ganesh Nimarjanam in Hyderabad and expecting wild reactions from the fans and the people. May be thats a good move inview of the safety of people and the public property. meanwhile they could do some ground work for the future strategy and moves.
The whole Andhra Pradesh state is preparing to bid adieu to one of the most powerful and charismatic Chief Minister. Its heartening to know that Ganesh Immersion in Hyderabad has taken without any festivities in respect to YSR.
I pray to God that his soul rests in peace!
The Road
17 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in Hyderabad, LOVE, Short story, Uncategorized Tags: LOVE, travel
Any of we men are happy for taking the same road each time we are out?
The Road of Love
Initially, in childhood I traveled by many roads with my parents. Then the destination was important. Then one fine day I started enjoying the travel through the roads. All the roads intersect in the dreams and there I was at the junction. I pick my favorite like all others and dream of it. That road looks alluring, shining in the morning sun, its curves, junctions, the slopes, signals are mind boggling. I like that road. Its great, i will ride over that one day. Hey guys yesterday night I was driving over M.G. Road, don’t remember the bike but that was really fantastic, mind blowing. Its when you realize your vocabulary fails to give you a ride and leave you awestruck in the middle. I will definitely ride over that. You can ride on your dreams, but in real you have to be dependent on the public Transportation for a ride. Someone else drives for you and most of the time you don’t see the road properly, you have to look through the windows and there are so many vying for them.and you could only see some part of the road. Always I find that the favorite seat beside the driver is filled. Once in a while you get the bike from your father and drive it over some small roads. The video games have the racing but never near to the real thrill. My dad finally gets me a bike but I have to earn the money for the fuel. Most of the time I sit over the bike and dream of driving over M.G. Road. Finally I finish my college and manage a job. Some of the money get into my bike. Finally I prepare myself for the dream ride. The approach roads have become crowded, they were never so busy. I pass all the roads with difficulty but the chance of riding over M.G. Road is invigorating me. By the time I reach the road, it is crowded and no chance of clearing. I keep the engine on there for a day filling it with anticipation, anxiety, despair. I return in pain. The dreams collide and kept haunting me. I have a bike and the money for fuel, but my favorite road has no space for me. My friends came to console with half the heart, other half feeling happy. I kept away from work for days, never touched the bike and isolated myself to a corner but the nightmares drag me into the middle and keep reminding me of the grand, lovely M.G. road. Where am I heading? It seems everything came to halt, traffic jams everywhere, but the heart keeps beating as if nothing has happened. I have broken down, and the people around me who gave me a ride or with whom I travel with, the acquaintances at the fuel pump are left motionless, some feeling pity. My father one day takes me out saying nothing. I just sit in the car, wear my seat belt. I could not see anything, but we were moving on some road, the vibrations of the car tell me that. Different thoughts keep coming. Everyone was seeing at me as if I were a fool. Yes, I was made a fool. I could not get my love, it became elusive. Finally, papa started speaking. He showed me the beautiful roads which in his view were so beautiful and were constructed by respected companies. He stopped at the beginning of a road, the plaque shows the inauguration date of some x road and the construction company’s Y. showed me some more roads, the builder’s reputations, did not describe the roads as they were there before me to look at. I did not understand why he is showing me all this. I did not ask him, he did not say. Dad is always like this, he never told anything directly. He always left things for us to see, feel and understand. That night I had a dreadful dream. My favorite road is no more a beauty any more, pot holes everywhere. my sweetheart looks at me craving for attention, but something was driving me away. NO! It was a nightmare. I could not deduce what the nightmare implied. Whether I should try again. Next day Dad comes and sits next to me. “See son, now that you have a job, nice income I think you should settle down. we may not be able to ride the way we dream of, but at least we should continue the journey. There are other dreams and we have some dreams for you too”. He passes to take breath, but he waits for me to think for myself. Yes I need continue the journey, others need not wait for me.
That night I was thinking of the roads papa has shown. This was after a long time I was thinking of the other roads.
The next day I say to DAD – S. L Road. Dad was really very happy and we had a celebration the following month.
A Year later, I was happily travelling over S.L Road, I should say traveling with S.L Road. As I traveled I got understand its curves, bends, its connecting roads, the junctions it passes through. Life seems new, and in all seasons, in happiness and grief, in joy and pain, the road seems to be there for you. This road has given a new life and together a new one.
Soon the life became routine, I find myself in a circle, no matter how hard I tried, returned back to the same place. The nights became silent and monotonous. The ride seems uninteresting and bumpy. Did not know whether the tires have worn out or the road. But the heart still craves for some new experience. One fine day I go to office through a different way. The road was not so great but the experience was new. I know my sweetheart is waiting for me but a part of me was craving for change. One day it rebels and stands before me asking for reason. I could see the flashing red light. I stop with my face down ashamed of my lack of loyalty. I give some reasons. we both knew it was a lie. Life was never the same there after . But as my dad said “The roads are never the same, but we need to continue the journey”
Alas! the results are out
17 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in Elections, Hyderabad, India, vote Tags: AP, Chandrababu Naidu, Congress, Elections, Hyderabad, India
After a wait of three weeks after first voting, the results are out.
Congress won the majority to form government at centre and in AP. Its sad that TDP did not win.
Its interesting to watch what Chiranjeevi is going to do. Wish him a long life in public service.
Any way whoever is going to come, is going to loot, never visit the place he is elected from. They don’t have to because they have bought the vote with money and liquor. It is our choice and its waste of making third person comments. We are part of the rotten system. No matter what we say, we stink of rust.
I hoped there will be a new government which would lay new roads in Hyderabad. That hope is lost. these hoodlums are again going to just patch the holes as they form. I dont know why i feel helpless. I am not acting. I am standing in line with infinte line of citizens waitin for someone to make a step forward. there are a few who are dare to step forward but are thrown away into darkness.
No matter what these stinking leaders throw at us, we sincerely go through our routine of over crowded cities, dry farm lands, filthy slums.
It goes on until some foriegn force again takes over the country. I pray that not to happen. but do nothing to avert that.
I did not vote
16 Apr 2009 Leave a Comment
in Elections, Hyderabad, Politics, vote Tags: Elections, Politics, vote
I did not vote this time too. I am not feeling quilty because I applied for the voter ID card online but my name was not in the voter list. I don’t know whom to blame for this. Partly me. I applied in the last minute.
Anyway this time too I leave the election to others some of whom sold themselves to money and liquor. I am partly to blame.
Even if you vote to any party seeing the manifesto or the promises of the local candidate, it is not guaranteed that they will be implemented. They have no accountability.
It is like you give your dog something to eat for five years, after that it stands before you wagging its tail. What are all these dogs going to do once there will be nothing left in the country and no swiss biscuits.
