It seemed like I was wrapped in a translucent sheet. Not just my head, not just my body. The whole road! I was riding through the thickest fog ever. For the past half an hour, only the occasional truck and my steadily ticking odometer convinced me that I was riding ahead and was not on the motorcycle version of the gym cycle. I was riding like a robot- throttle twisted to keep the speed at 50, freezing hands ready on the front brake, helmet visor partly lifted so that it doesn’t mist up and eyes on the lookout for vague shapes without lights. My motions were also like of a robot, when I spotted a truck- check rear view mirror, indicator, flash pass light, honk, twist throttle, again indicator, again check rear view mirror and then slow down. The fog showed no signs of thinning. Indeed, there were patches where it was worse. Goddamn fog! What a morning I chose to ride. I was shivering inside my jacket, teeth clattering inside the balaclava and helmet and hands freezing inside the gloves. The beginnings of a cramp in the right knee, though I had committed myself to ride for another 70 kms before stopping for a break. When you make a commitment, you stick to it. No matter what. Well, not if you have committed your life to someone in drunken reverie, of course. I did that with her. I was as drunk as a...well, as a drunk person would be (NO other object or species on this Earth consumes alcohol deliberately, so all metaphors and similes are moot). Then, when she asked me if I loved her, I replied in the affirmative. She wanted to spend her lifetime with me; did I also want to do that? OF COURSE! What followed was what follows when a girl and boy are drunk and madly in love with each other. What happened the next morning was NOT what happens to a girl and boy madly in love with each other. The fogs of alcohol dispersed from my brain...which reminds me, the fog on the road had still not cleared and I was still riding at 50 with no sign on human life anywhere. I am on planet Jupiter, and I am riding towards the Great Red Spot. Hell no! I am on Neptune. I always loved the sound of that name. Nep-tune, Nep-TUNE. So nice!
(Riding on the highways for me is second nature. Long hours of enjoyment, fringed with boredom with the mind jumping from one thing to another, all interspersed with moments of extreme adrenaline rush and spiking heart beats. Those moments are few and far between, and I would prefer to tackle such situations with a cool and clear head.....). Well, that sounded like a nice beginning to my ride blog when I reached home! I’ll sleep for a while and then start off in the evening. That is, if I reach before afternoon.
I checked my odometer. It had ticked to 251 kms. I had passed my 70 kms target a few minutes ago and I was supposed to stop for a stretching break. But hell, I wanted to get out of this fog, so another 20 kms. I’ll stop then. I promise to myself. I felt like a child psychologist, promising goodies to that little child inside my skull if it behaved well for a few more minutes.
Another truck light appeared. Alright, check rear view mirror. Nothing approaching. Indicator, ON. Flash light, honk and twist the throttle, feeling the beast between my legs (the one with wheels, not the other one) churning out and unleashing raw power. Then, I see another truck light in my path. I slow a bit, but see that this one has rods jutting out of its back. Crap!
You know what is fear? Fear is not when you are about to jump for an 80 feet cliff with a bungee cord tied to your legs. That is nervousness. You are nervous but deep, deep, deep inside your brain, you know you’ll probably survive. So, you jump. Fear is that split second before a crash, when you know that you are about to crash and you can do nothing about it. That fraction of a second of clear headedness is fear. You experience that once and everything else in life will seem easy to you.
The rods passed through my body like knife through butter. I was dead before I could
have any last thoughts.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Faith
Two events of the past few days lead to this blog. The first was my ride to Tirupati and the subsequent climb up to Tirumala. The second one was the Ganesh Chaturthi pooja in my P.G. today. Let me give a brief sketch of each before I start off.
The Tirupati ride was a spur-of-the-moment ride. I had resolved to go to Tirupati many months ago, but on Friday evening, I decided to miss college the next day and go. A few family friends there were contacted and informed. The plan was to ride up to Tirupati, park the bike there and then climb up to Tirumala via the Alipiri route (3500+ steps). The Alipiri route is the traditional, longer of the two pedestrian routes from Tirupati to Tirumala. The ride was decent (except for a broken speedometer cable, rendering my odometer non-functional) and I reached Tirupati by 11.30 a.m. I was at the starting point of Alipiri steps by 12 sharp and began the climb without further ado. I reached the town of Tirumala by 3.45 pm, met up with my grandfather, freshened up and joined the 'darshanam' queue again at 6. Thanks to a stupid mistake on my part, I wasted 2 hours and came back to my grandfather's room at 12.30 a.m. after the darshanam. The next day, I hit the road again and reached Bengaluru at 1 p.m, thereby fulfilling the 4 month old promise to myself and family.
The other event was today's pooja in my P.G. The caretaker cum errand boy of the P.G. is a lazy boy named Shiva. He rarely does the stuff told to him on time and has the habit of talking back when reprimanded. Some other residents of the PG get him drunk weekly and he always hangs around with them. No wonder their rooms are the cleanest in the whole PG! So, 2 days ago, this epitome of laziness started going around to all rooms collecting money. For what? For a Ganesh Chaturthi pooja in the P.G. I was pretty surprised by his commitment to the cause. I gave my contribution but was pretty skeptic about how the thing would turn out. My skepticism got an egg on its face. It was a small pooja, but it was well done, with a nice idol, fruits, sweets, incense sticks and all other pooja paraphernalia. The aforementioned PG residents were the priests and organizers too.
So, what is the significance of these two events? As you might have noticed, the common thread that runs through both of them is devotion to God. For those who don't know, I declared myself an agnostic many years ago and continue believing I am one. A blog dedicated to this was posted too (http://bkatreya.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html). But the climb to Tirumala made me give all this a serious re-think. They say, faith moves mountains. I witnessed it first hand on 3500 steps. Everyone was huffing and puffing their way up but there was s difference. I was doing it just because I wanted to, because I had promised myself. The others were not doing it for anybody else, or even for themselves. They were doing it because of the sheer force of belief. 60-70 year old people, who might moan and groan about moving a chair were climbing with me. Young children, accompanied by their parents were taking the stairs two at a time. Even more surprising were young couples lugging around chubby babies and still climbing! Another class of climbers were those who might have taken an oath in front of God to do something if some wish is fulfilled. These people either lighted camphor tablets or applied a paste of kumkum and haldi on each stair. At the end of the climb, I was left with lots of thoughts. Primarily, I was thinking, what kind of strength do these people have to have SUCH faith in God? How beautiful their lives were because of that faith and belief! I trudge through life, I have my happy and sad moments, I take things as they come by, I get respect and I lose respect. These people might be living similar lives but add to it, their immortal faith in God. It is like, we all are mountains. But mine is a barren mountain whilst a beautiful stream of water runs through theirs. That stream cuts through the rock of the mountain but at the same time, beautifies it with greenery. My mountain, on the other hand, stands strong with them but there is a certain something missing, evident to all and sundry.
The pooja today intensified these feelings in me. Again, a whole community slowly built up around the pooja table. All were just connected by their faith in God. I stood with them with folded hands, but somehow, there was something missing.
I think I am going insane
I AM AN AGNOSTIC!! I DON'T BELIEVE IN WORSHIPING GOD!! But I now have faith in faith. Yes I have faith, not in God, but in faith!
Have a nice day, people!
The Tirupati ride was a spur-of-the-moment ride. I had resolved to go to Tirupati many months ago, but on Friday evening, I decided to miss college the next day and go. A few family friends there were contacted and informed. The plan was to ride up to Tirupati, park the bike there and then climb up to Tirumala via the Alipiri route (3500+ steps). The Alipiri route is the traditional, longer of the two pedestrian routes from Tirupati to Tirumala. The ride was decent (except for a broken speedometer cable, rendering my odometer non-functional) and I reached Tirupati by 11.30 a.m. I was at the starting point of Alipiri steps by 12 sharp and began the climb without further ado. I reached the town of Tirumala by 3.45 pm, met up with my grandfather, freshened up and joined the 'darshanam' queue again at 6. Thanks to a stupid mistake on my part, I wasted 2 hours and came back to my grandfather's room at 12.30 a.m. after the darshanam. The next day, I hit the road again and reached Bengaluru at 1 p.m, thereby fulfilling the 4 month old promise to myself and family.
The other event was today's pooja in my P.G. The caretaker cum errand boy of the P.G. is a lazy boy named Shiva. He rarely does the stuff told to him on time and has the habit of talking back when reprimanded. Some other residents of the PG get him drunk weekly and he always hangs around with them. No wonder their rooms are the cleanest in the whole PG! So, 2 days ago, this epitome of laziness started going around to all rooms collecting money. For what? For a Ganesh Chaturthi pooja in the P.G. I was pretty surprised by his commitment to the cause. I gave my contribution but was pretty skeptic about how the thing would turn out. My skepticism got an egg on its face. It was a small pooja, but it was well done, with a nice idol, fruits, sweets, incense sticks and all other pooja paraphernalia. The aforementioned PG residents were the priests and organizers too.
So, what is the significance of these two events? As you might have noticed, the common thread that runs through both of them is devotion to God. For those who don't know, I declared myself an agnostic many years ago and continue believing I am one. A blog dedicated to this was posted too (http://bkatreya.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html). But the climb to Tirumala made me give all this a serious re-think. They say, faith moves mountains. I witnessed it first hand on 3500 steps. Everyone was huffing and puffing their way up but there was s difference. I was doing it just because I wanted to, because I had promised myself. The others were not doing it for anybody else, or even for themselves. They were doing it because of the sheer force of belief. 60-70 year old people, who might moan and groan about moving a chair were climbing with me. Young children, accompanied by their parents were taking the stairs two at a time. Even more surprising were young couples lugging around chubby babies and still climbing! Another class of climbers were those who might have taken an oath in front of God to do something if some wish is fulfilled. These people either lighted camphor tablets or applied a paste of kumkum and haldi on each stair. At the end of the climb, I was left with lots of thoughts. Primarily, I was thinking, what kind of strength do these people have to have SUCH faith in God? How beautiful their lives were because of that faith and belief! I trudge through life, I have my happy and sad moments, I take things as they come by, I get respect and I lose respect. These people might be living similar lives but add to it, their immortal faith in God. It is like, we all are mountains. But mine is a barren mountain whilst a beautiful stream of water runs through theirs. That stream cuts through the rock of the mountain but at the same time, beautifies it with greenery. My mountain, on the other hand, stands strong with them but there is a certain something missing, evident to all and sundry.
The pooja today intensified these feelings in me. Again, a whole community slowly built up around the pooja table. All were just connected by their faith in God. I stood with them with folded hands, but somehow, there was something missing.
I think I am going insane
I AM AN AGNOSTIC!! I DON'T BELIEVE IN WORSHIPING GOD!! But I now have faith in faith. Yes I have faith, not in God, but in faith!
Have a nice day, people!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
My first long solo ride!
I just completed my first long solo ride! So, I decided, this would be
the perfect time for me to start blogging about bike rides. Though I
had started riding in 2008, I had never blogged about it. People
always asked me about it, and I just replied that I wasn't motivated
enough to. That, however, does not mean that the rides weren't
significant enough. The truth actually was that at the end of every
ride, I felt VERY exhilarated and penning down that exhilaration was
next to impossible for me. I'll try doing that now.
This ride, Bangalore to Jog Falls, had been planned long ago. The
initial plan was just to see Jog Falls. Then, I realized I would be
having a 3 day weekend (13th,14th and 15th August). Thus, I roped in
my good friend and fellow biker, Sarat. Both of us planned a 4 day
ride, covering Gokarna and Mangalore too. We then sold this plan to a
third friend, Akash, who was to ride pillion with us. Things were all
planned, I got my bike serviced, bought some stuff I needed and was
basically very excited to start off. 2 days before the ride, however,
Sarat dropped out due to a personal problem. That left me and Akash.
We decided to drop Mangalore from the itinerary, but I still had
second thoughts. I was never comfortable with a pillion, especially on
long rides. After grappling with the problem for a while, I decided
and told Akash that I would ride solo. He was understanding about it.
This decision, however, had mixed results. We drank on 12th night and
I slept early.
13th morning, I woke up late, at 6.20. I was still slightly foggy in
the mind since the effects of the beer had not yet worn off. I got ready quickly and started off. I had decided to implement Bulls on Parade's (BoP, a
Delhi based Bullet club) 100 km pit-stop strategy. I had bungee cords,
but since it was already 6.30, I kept off packing till the first stop
for breakfast. Finding my way out of Bangalore, I hit the NH-4. NH-4
is a six laned slab of Amul butter. I touched the 100 kms mark soon
enough, but rode on, since I was enjoying myself. A sign board
appeared, directing me left, towards Shimoga. From this turning, the
NH-206 starts. I rode for 15-20 kms, keeping a sharp lookout for any
good hotel. None appeared. I was regretting my decision of not
stopping for breakfast on NH-4 when some hotel appeared. I had
something called 'thatte' idli, which was just about average. I washed
it down with a glass of tea and took out my bungee cords to figure out
a way to pack. After 15 mins, I managed to tie down the bag. Happy
with the result, I started off again. I had only progressed 3-4
metres, when I noticed the bag slipping down slowly. I tied it down
again, differently this time, but the bag continued to slip off.
Having no option, I shouldered the bag for the rest of the ride.
The NH-206 is one of the best highways I have ever had the pleasure to
ride on. It is two-laned, for the most part, though it expands to 4
lanes for a few kilometers in between. The road curves like a gentle
snake through villages, green fields and forests. It is smooth too,
though you will come across bad stretches in between, ranging from a
few meters to 3-4 kilometers. The cloudy sky made the weather perfect
for riding. I came across great scenery, but I wasn't in a mood to
stop and take pictures. It drizzled slightly in between, so I stopped
to wear my raincoat but that's about it. Passing through Shimoga and
Sagara, I finally reached my destination, Jog Falls. The Karnataka
Tourism Ministry had made it a perfect tourist spot, with parking
facilities and restaurants nearby. I started looking for a hotel and
asked the guard there. A small boy materialized and offered to take me
to the Youth Hostel and other hotels in the vicinity. When we reached
the Youth Hostel, there was nobody there, so we went to another
lodging facility nearby. There, however, the owner steadfastly refused
to give a room to a single person. The boy told me that nobody in this
area gives rooms to single people. There was a village called Kargal,
5 kms away and it was the same situation there. Downcast, I decided to
see the waterfalls and then ride back to Sagara (30 kms away) for the
night. At the parking, a local guide came up to me. He scolded the
little boy and assured me that I would get a room in Kargal, if he
came with me. It was worth a try, so off we went. At Kargal, again, 2
lodging facilities refused to admit me. The third one, Hotel Sampath
Lodge, was dingy place to stay in. The owner initially refused too. I
was informed that single people have the tendency of committing
suicide and that is why, nobody gives rooms to them. The owner asked
me if I 'had any problem'. Meaning, if I planned to commit suicide. I
managed to keep a straight face and assured him that I was a happy
man, living a perfect life. He relented finally. The price of that
tiny room was Rs 700, but I bargained it down to Rs 400.
I freshened up, deposited my bag and went back to Jog Falls to see
what was there to see. Jog Falls are the highest waterfalls in India.
There are 3-4 different viewing points. The waterfalls actually
consist of 4 falls- Raja, Roarer, Rocket and Rani. The view is
magnificent and the setting serene. I took some pictures and sat on a
secluded bench to think what to do next. It was just 5 pm. It suddenly
hit me, that I was bored! Jog Falls were great to look at, but what
now? The plan was to ride to Gokarna the next day, but I almost knew
what would happen there. After visiting the beaches and the temple, I
would again be faced with the same problem- what to do the whole day.
Without anybody along, I had thoroughly enjoyed the ride. However, it
is at the destination that one feels the need for companionship. A
couple of friends along with a few beers would have made this more
enjoyable. I thought for a while before taking the decision- I would
skip Gokarna too. It felt ridiculous, shortening the ride again, but I
thought it was for the best. It started raining and a mist was
covering the falls, so I went back to the hotel. My room wasn't the
most interesting place to be in, so I again stepped out to look for an
internet cafe. At the cafe, the lady asked for my ID proof and
address. She ended up completely confused, when I cited the facts- I
am from Andhra, that is why I am speaking Telugu; my licence is from
Uttar Pradesh, which is where I reside; I am currently staying in
Bangalore; and for this night, I am staying in the hotel nearby. She
asked me to write the address of the hotel in the register, in case I
came up with the name of some other place.
By the time I finished, it was dinner time. I stepped into the only
hotel nearby. The dinner I had was one of the worse meals I have
tasted. I gobbled it down and turned in early. My phone battery was
dead and the only plug point in my room was two-pin point. The hotel
peon told me that the owner's room had a 3 pin point and I could use
it when the latter returned from the masjid. The blessed owner never
turned up. I woke up every hour to look for him, since I wasn't
comfortable with riding around with a dead phone. At 3, I slept off
for good. When I woke up, it was 6 am. The owner had finally returned
and provided me with a pink plug converter. Thanking him profusely for
his 'timely' help, I charged my phone for 10-15 mins, while I dressed
up and had tea. I was out on the road by 6.20 am.
As I crossed Jog, I came across a strange sight. On the edge of the
road, a gunny bag was walking. It looked eerie, yet funny, seeing a
gunny bag walking. I came closer and realized that a villager had
draped on the gunny bag to cover his upper body completely. There was
a light drizzle, so I guess it was to shield him from the rain. He had
just left a small hole near the head to see through. Strangest things
one comes across during rides!
The rest of the ride was uneventful. While coming to Jog, it took me 8
hours to cover 400 kms. I thought it was a bit on the slower side, so
I speeded up and took only 2 breaks this time. By the time I reached
Bangalore outskirts, it was 1.45 pm. Another 45 mins in the city
traffic and I was home, having successfully completed my longest ride
ever- 821 kms!
Ride stats
Length- 821 kms
Route- Bangalore-Shimoga-Sagara-Jog
Highways- NH-4 and NH-206
Tips for riders
1. Eat on NH-4, in Kamat Upachar, maybe. NH-206 is awesome, but it
loses out on good places to eat.
2. If you are very low on fuel, tank up in Sagara itself. From there
till Jog (and another 30 kms ahead), there is no petrol pump. You can
get petrol from a puncture shop in Kargal for Rs 80/liter. Along with
the cost, I think the fuel is of questionable quality too.
3. As it happened with me, it is hard to get a room if you are alone.
But, if you catch hold of one of the guides in Jog, it'll be easier
for you
4. Lastly, enjoy the ride! The last 60 kms to Jog are through forests
and it is truly a magical experience
I'll end this with a 2 liner I came up with while riding on the smooth
curves of NH-206
"I love curves
Of both roads and girls!"
So long!
the perfect time for me to start blogging about bike rides. Though I
had started riding in 2008, I had never blogged about it. People
always asked me about it, and I just replied that I wasn't motivated
enough to. That, however, does not mean that the rides weren't
significant enough. The truth actually was that at the end of every
ride, I felt VERY exhilarated and penning down that exhilaration was
next to impossible for me. I'll try doing that now.
This ride, Bangalore to Jog Falls, had been planned long ago. The
initial plan was just to see Jog Falls. Then, I realized I would be
having a 3 day weekend (13th,14th and 15th August). Thus, I roped in
my good friend and fellow biker, Sarat. Both of us planned a 4 day
ride, covering Gokarna and Mangalore too. We then sold this plan to a
third friend, Akash, who was to ride pillion with us. Things were all
planned, I got my bike serviced, bought some stuff I needed and was
basically very excited to start off. 2 days before the ride, however,
Sarat dropped out due to a personal problem. That left me and Akash.
We decided to drop Mangalore from the itinerary, but I still had
second thoughts. I was never comfortable with a pillion, especially on
long rides. After grappling with the problem for a while, I decided
and told Akash that I would ride solo. He was understanding about it.
This decision, however, had mixed results. We drank on 12th night and
I slept early.
13th morning, I woke up late, at 6.20. I was still slightly foggy in
the mind since the effects of the beer had not yet worn off. I got ready quickly and started off. I had decided to implement Bulls on Parade's (BoP, a
Delhi based Bullet club) 100 km pit-stop strategy. I had bungee cords,
but since it was already 6.30, I kept off packing till the first stop
for breakfast. Finding my way out of Bangalore, I hit the NH-4. NH-4
is a six laned slab of Amul butter. I touched the 100 kms mark soon
enough, but rode on, since I was enjoying myself. A sign board
appeared, directing me left, towards Shimoga. From this turning, the
NH-206 starts. I rode for 15-20 kms, keeping a sharp lookout for any
good hotel. None appeared. I was regretting my decision of not
stopping for breakfast on NH-4 when some hotel appeared. I had
something called 'thatte' idli, which was just about average. I washed
it down with a glass of tea and took out my bungee cords to figure out
a way to pack. After 15 mins, I managed to tie down the bag. Happy
with the result, I started off again. I had only progressed 3-4
metres, when I noticed the bag slipping down slowly. I tied it down
again, differently this time, but the bag continued to slip off.
Having no option, I shouldered the bag for the rest of the ride.
The NH-206 is one of the best highways I have ever had the pleasure to
ride on. It is two-laned, for the most part, though it expands to 4
lanes for a few kilometers in between. The road curves like a gentle
snake through villages, green fields and forests. It is smooth too,
though you will come across bad stretches in between, ranging from a
few meters to 3-4 kilometers. The cloudy sky made the weather perfect
for riding. I came across great scenery, but I wasn't in a mood to
stop and take pictures. It drizzled slightly in between, so I stopped
to wear my raincoat but that's about it. Passing through Shimoga and
Sagara, I finally reached my destination, Jog Falls. The Karnataka
Tourism Ministry had made it a perfect tourist spot, with parking
facilities and restaurants nearby. I started looking for a hotel and
asked the guard there. A small boy materialized and offered to take me
to the Youth Hostel and other hotels in the vicinity. When we reached
the Youth Hostel, there was nobody there, so we went to another
lodging facility nearby. There, however, the owner steadfastly refused
to give a room to a single person. The boy told me that nobody in this
area gives rooms to single people. There was a village called Kargal,
5 kms away and it was the same situation there. Downcast, I decided to
see the waterfalls and then ride back to Sagara (30 kms away) for the
night. At the parking, a local guide came up to me. He scolded the
little boy and assured me that I would get a room in Kargal, if he
came with me. It was worth a try, so off we went. At Kargal, again, 2
lodging facilities refused to admit me. The third one, Hotel Sampath
Lodge, was dingy place to stay in. The owner initially refused too. I
was informed that single people have the tendency of committing
suicide and that is why, nobody gives rooms to them. The owner asked
me if I 'had any problem'. Meaning, if I planned to commit suicide. I
managed to keep a straight face and assured him that I was a happy
man, living a perfect life. He relented finally. The price of that
tiny room was Rs 700, but I bargained it down to Rs 400.
I freshened up, deposited my bag and went back to Jog Falls to see
what was there to see. Jog Falls are the highest waterfalls in India.
There are 3-4 different viewing points. The waterfalls actually
consist of 4 falls- Raja, Roarer, Rocket and Rani. The view is
magnificent and the setting serene. I took some pictures and sat on a
secluded bench to think what to do next. It was just 5 pm. It suddenly
hit me, that I was bored! Jog Falls were great to look at, but what
now? The plan was to ride to Gokarna the next day, but I almost knew
what would happen there. After visiting the beaches and the temple, I
would again be faced with the same problem- what to do the whole day.
Without anybody along, I had thoroughly enjoyed the ride. However, it
is at the destination that one feels the need for companionship. A
couple of friends along with a few beers would have made this more
enjoyable. I thought for a while before taking the decision- I would
skip Gokarna too. It felt ridiculous, shortening the ride again, but I
thought it was for the best. It started raining and a mist was
covering the falls, so I went back to the hotel. My room wasn't the
most interesting place to be in, so I again stepped out to look for an
internet cafe. At the cafe, the lady asked for my ID proof and
address. She ended up completely confused, when I cited the facts- I
am from Andhra, that is why I am speaking Telugu; my licence is from
Uttar Pradesh, which is where I reside; I am currently staying in
Bangalore; and for this night, I am staying in the hotel nearby. She
asked me to write the address of the hotel in the register, in case I
came up with the name of some other place.
By the time I finished, it was dinner time. I stepped into the only
hotel nearby. The dinner I had was one of the worse meals I have
tasted. I gobbled it down and turned in early. My phone battery was
dead and the only plug point in my room was two-pin point. The hotel
peon told me that the owner's room had a 3 pin point and I could use
it when the latter returned from the masjid. The blessed owner never
turned up. I woke up every hour to look for him, since I wasn't
comfortable with riding around with a dead phone. At 3, I slept off
for good. When I woke up, it was 6 am. The owner had finally returned
and provided me with a pink plug converter. Thanking him profusely for
his 'timely' help, I charged my phone for 10-15 mins, while I dressed
up and had tea. I was out on the road by 6.20 am.
As I crossed Jog, I came across a strange sight. On the edge of the
road, a gunny bag was walking. It looked eerie, yet funny, seeing a
gunny bag walking. I came closer and realized that a villager had
draped on the gunny bag to cover his upper body completely. There was
a light drizzle, so I guess it was to shield him from the rain. He had
just left a small hole near the head to see through. Strangest things
one comes across during rides!
The rest of the ride was uneventful. While coming to Jog, it took me 8
hours to cover 400 kms. I thought it was a bit on the slower side, so
I speeded up and took only 2 breaks this time. By the time I reached
Bangalore outskirts, it was 1.45 pm. Another 45 mins in the city
traffic and I was home, having successfully completed my longest ride
ever- 821 kms!
Ride stats
Length- 821 kms
Route- Bangalore-Shimoga-Sagara-Jog
Highways- NH-4 and NH-206
Tips for riders
1. Eat on NH-4, in Kamat Upachar, maybe. NH-206 is awesome, but it
loses out on good places to eat.
2. If you are very low on fuel, tank up in Sagara itself. From there
till Jog (and another 30 kms ahead), there is no petrol pump. You can
get petrol from a puncture shop in Kargal for Rs 80/liter. Along with
the cost, I think the fuel is of questionable quality too.
3. As it happened with me, it is hard to get a room if you are alone.
But, if you catch hold of one of the guides in Jog, it'll be easier
for you
4. Lastly, enjoy the ride! The last 60 kms to Jog are through forests
and it is truly a magical experience
I'll end this with a 2 liner I came up with while riding on the smooth
curves of NH-206
"I love curves
Of both roads and girls!"
So long!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
My meanderings into agnosticism
My recent travels gave me ample time to think about everything. A significant portion of this time was spent on thinking about my complete lack of belief in God. Almost four years ago, I had classified myself as an agnostic. Atheism was way too definite for me, since it negates the existence of God completely, while agnosticism leaves room for doubt. Then too, I had thought about it for long. I had noticed a steady decline in the strength of my prayers. I folded hands, I recited my slokas but there was no conviction in them. I just did it because it had to be done. I decided it was no good, so I stopped praying completely. Every few months or so, I was forced to take part in some pooja, and I would mechanically recite my slokas and get it done with. I was (and still am) scared of admitting my agnosticism openly to my family, since all are devout believers of God and anything close to lack of belief would be sacrilege. More on this later, though.
When I first decided I was an agnostic, I had delved into the reasons behind it. Was it simply rebellious thoughts stemming from adolescence? Wasn't every teenager a rebel? I was 17 then, so I guessed that the phase would pass and soon, my prayers would have belief and conviction in them. That didn't happen. Slowly, I started to realize this wasn't that easy to explain. I had started reading Sigmund Freud's works then and his emphasis on unconscious thoughts had influenced me greatly. There WAS a reason to it, and it wasn't out in the open. It had to be extracted. I concluded that my prayers had started becoming robotic ever since I was 13 or 14. I will not give any details here, but that was the time when a close family member started having health problems, which steadily worsened. This family member is and has always been a very devout believer of God. It didn't make sense to me. If there was God, why was there suffering? If he punished his worshipers, why worship him at all? If suffering was inevitable, then isn't it better to endure it, than seeking the support of a non existent being whose believers made tall claims, yet he usually fails to show up when needed? I became angry then and I decided. I will not pray. If Karma is true and that family member was suffering due to wrongs done in the past life, then so be it. God has no role to play here. It is like a bank balance, where the credits and debits are calculated and the amount carried forward to the next quarter. No need to go the bank manager and ask him for help, is there?
From there on, I embarked upon the path of agnosticism. Each passing day, my belief weakened. I did not deny the existence of God. Nor will I ever. I just did not and do not find any need to worship and pray him. Why pray, when it does not ease any suffering? Why adulate him, when what you have achieved is due to your own efforts (or those of others)? You do not like your boss taking credit for your work, but you are ready to give credit to God for it. Go ahead. I won't do it.
Coming to the point I made earlier, I actually am not very open about my agnosticism. My family is completely God believing. Whenever possible, I avoid prayers, poojas, etc. But when I cannot avoid it, I go ahead and do it. My thoughts are somewhere else when I close my eyes and fold my hands. Call me a coward for not being open about my feelings. I myself get that feeling sometimes. Maybe one day, I'll tell everyone what I really think about praying to God. Or maybe not. The current situation is that I am happy with my beliefs and so is my family. Let us see what the future brings. They say that there are no atheists on a sinking ship. I cannot comment on that, since life has thrown difficult situations at me and I have managed to handle them without seeking the the help of God. Maybe I can handle a sinking ship too!
{Note: I will not tolerate any comments that preach belief in God to me. I absolutely hate such things. Kindly desist)
When I first decided I was an agnostic, I had delved into the reasons behind it. Was it simply rebellious thoughts stemming from adolescence? Wasn't every teenager a rebel? I was 17 then, so I guessed that the phase would pass and soon, my prayers would have belief and conviction in them. That didn't happen. Slowly, I started to realize this wasn't that easy to explain. I had started reading Sigmund Freud's works then and his emphasis on unconscious thoughts had influenced me greatly. There WAS a reason to it, and it wasn't out in the open. It had to be extracted. I concluded that my prayers had started becoming robotic ever since I was 13 or 14. I will not give any details here, but that was the time when a close family member started having health problems, which steadily worsened. This family member is and has always been a very devout believer of God. It didn't make sense to me. If there was God, why was there suffering? If he punished his worshipers, why worship him at all? If suffering was inevitable, then isn't it better to endure it, than seeking the support of a non existent being whose believers made tall claims, yet he usually fails to show up when needed? I became angry then and I decided. I will not pray. If Karma is true and that family member was suffering due to wrongs done in the past life, then so be it. God has no role to play here. It is like a bank balance, where the credits and debits are calculated and the amount carried forward to the next quarter. No need to go the bank manager and ask him for help, is there?
From there on, I embarked upon the path of agnosticism. Each passing day, my belief weakened. I did not deny the existence of God. Nor will I ever. I just did not and do not find any need to worship and pray him. Why pray, when it does not ease any suffering? Why adulate him, when what you have achieved is due to your own efforts (or those of others)? You do not like your boss taking credit for your work, but you are ready to give credit to God for it. Go ahead. I won't do it.
Coming to the point I made earlier, I actually am not very open about my agnosticism. My family is completely God believing. Whenever possible, I avoid prayers, poojas, etc. But when I cannot avoid it, I go ahead and do it. My thoughts are somewhere else when I close my eyes and fold my hands. Call me a coward for not being open about my feelings. I myself get that feeling sometimes. Maybe one day, I'll tell everyone what I really think about praying to God. Or maybe not. The current situation is that I am happy with my beliefs and so is my family. Let us see what the future brings. They say that there are no atheists on a sinking ship. I cannot comment on that, since life has thrown difficult situations at me and I have managed to handle them without seeking the the help of God. Maybe I can handle a sinking ship too!
{Note: I will not tolerate any comments that preach belief in God to me. I absolutely hate such things. Kindly desist)
Friday, January 14, 2011
When time is of essence
This will be my fourth attempt at a blog in the past two months. Every time, I started off with some topic I thought was good enough, only to fizzle out after a few paragraphs.I would begin with great ideas, but sadly, they would be finished by the 2nd or 3rd para, or I would lose track of it or I would fail to give it a coherent structure. Once, I persisted with it and finished the so-called blog. Not satisfied with the end result, I posted in on my FB profile only, to avoid the scathing criticism I deserved for such a shoddy job. I have no reason to believe it would be any different this time, but if you are reading it, then I would be very happy, because that would mean I am satisfied enough to post it here in the first place!
The only change I resolved to bring into this blog was not to try too hard. I would not try to make it very structured. This blog would simply be a bunch of my ideas, a hastily configured superstructure, which is as likely to crash down as a house of cards. It wouldn't be rambling, let me assure you. It would be centered around a topic that has fascinated me since childhood- time travel. A note of caution: part of my ideas have stemmed from some philosophical concepts related to time travel I have read in books and on internet. I would be explaining them in simple words in between, but Wikipedia-ing it would clear it out better, in case you don't know about them already.
Mankind, with his huge leaps and bounds in the field of science is now virtually a master of his environment. Time, however, has remained elusive from his grasp even till this day. Maybe we will develop a way to go back and forward in time, maybe we will not. We have no means of knowing that. But what bothers me is the possibility of this. You see, this idea originated in my mind a few years ago, but Olaf Stapledon's "Last and First Men" allowed me to give it a clearer picture. Time travel, essentially, consists of going back in the past and going into the future. Now, think about this. Isn't the past what has happened? If it has happened, then how can we 'go' back into the past? Is the past actually a series of events still playing out, as we move ahead? If it is, who are the players? The players have moved ahead in time, so there should be nobody left to play out that event. To make it simpler, I will give an example. Suppose, a time machine has been developed. Yesterday, I was beaten up by 2 guys and I didn't hit them back, because I thought they had the backing of some big goons behind them. Today, I realize they were bluffing, and they had no more power in hand than I had. I decide to back in time and hit them. Now, if I do, what will I find there? According to movies and other time travel novels, I would find myself being beaten up, yet with a clear understanding of what I could do, I would simply correct my mistake and hit them back. BUT, if that is so, then WHO is beating me in the first place? Those two guys have moved ahead in time, so I should find myself alone, right? It DOES seem slightly ridiculous, to think that as we move ahead, we are leaving duplicate copies of us behind to do exactly as we did!
Similarly, think of future travel. This scores slightly better than the past, but still worth pondering over.If the future is what is yet to happen, then shouldn't we find nothing but emptiness there? The time traveler has surged ahead of everyone, but others are yet to catch up with him. We make the future. You are reading this blog now, you may get irritated and shut down the computer and go out with friends. If you travel ahead in time, will you find yourselves having fun with your friends? How can you, since what you did was at the spur of the moment and when your friends haven't traveled ahead with you in time?
Such doubts made me realize the importance of the words 'time and space'. Time travel isn't restricted to traveling in time ONLY. It involves the travel of space too, i.e. traveling with the 'events' of time, instead of purely time, which should only lead to emptiness! Obviously, I am not any kind of scientist, nor a philosophy scholar. When the time comes for time travelling, these things would have been thought through and through (they may already have been, for all we know) and I'll be left feeling like a champion oaf for trying to be over-smart!
Moving on to simpler things, suppose we assume the fact that the past and the future are playing out on their own, while we are in the present. In such a scenario, a lot of interesting possibilities come up. One is called the predestination paradox. This is related to travelling to the past. Here, time travelers attempt to influence the past through their actions, only to end up influencing it in the very manner it had happened. For e.g. I go back in time to help my 'past self' with his examination which he failed. I go and whisper all the answers, confusing him and eventually causing him to fail, to correct which I go back in time in the first place! A similar, but more confusing concept is the ontological paradox. It involves the transfer of objects or ideas to the past, thereby creating a loop. Wikipedia quotes the best example to explain this. A man, who wants to build a time machine, is visited by his future version, who gives him the blueprint of the machine. He builds it over the years and when he finishes it, he is the one who goes back in time to help his past self! These paradoxes though, have been massively simplified and I need to understand them much more before I can discuss them any further.
My 3rd set of ideas relate to some unexplainable phenomenon we come across daily. Maybe they are the products of time travel! The alien spaceships people that people purportedly witness. Maybe they are flying vehicles developed by our future selves, who have come back in time to see us! [THE NEXT LINE MAY DEEPLY OFFEND GOD BELIEVERS, I ADVISE THEM NOT TO READ IT, AND IF THEY DO, THEN PLEASE DON'T GET OFFENDED. THESE ARE MY IDEAS AND MY "IDEAS" ONLY. I HAVE NO MALICIOUS INTENTIONS] Maybe, our future selves grow in stature (evolution), become 'God-like', develop a way of time traveling and then decide to visit OUR distance past. Thus, our ancestors may have seen our future selves, became awed and started worshiping them which we continue to do till this day.
Thus, presented in as little a nutshell as possible, are my ideas on time travel. It is a mysterious and fascinating field, to say the least and I sincerely hope that mankind makes some kind of progress in this. Maybe, my future self deciphers all these riddles and will be coming back in time to tell me. Another blog then, for sure! Till then, respect the past, stay in the present and plan the future!
The only change I resolved to bring into this blog was not to try too hard. I would not try to make it very structured. This blog would simply be a bunch of my ideas, a hastily configured superstructure, which is as likely to crash down as a house of cards. It wouldn't be rambling, let me assure you. It would be centered around a topic that has fascinated me since childhood- time travel. A note of caution: part of my ideas have stemmed from some philosophical concepts related to time travel I have read in books and on internet. I would be explaining them in simple words in between, but Wikipedia-ing it would clear it out better, in case you don't know about them already.
Mankind, with his huge leaps and bounds in the field of science is now virtually a master of his environment. Time, however, has remained elusive from his grasp even till this day. Maybe we will develop a way to go back and forward in time, maybe we will not. We have no means of knowing that. But what bothers me is the possibility of this. You see, this idea originated in my mind a few years ago, but Olaf Stapledon's "Last and First Men" allowed me to give it a clearer picture. Time travel, essentially, consists of going back in the past and going into the future. Now, think about this. Isn't the past what has happened? If it has happened, then how can we 'go' back into the past? Is the past actually a series of events still playing out, as we move ahead? If it is, who are the players? The players have moved ahead in time, so there should be nobody left to play out that event. To make it simpler, I will give an example. Suppose, a time machine has been developed. Yesterday, I was beaten up by 2 guys and I didn't hit them back, because I thought they had the backing of some big goons behind them. Today, I realize they were bluffing, and they had no more power in hand than I had. I decide to back in time and hit them. Now, if I do, what will I find there? According to movies and other time travel novels, I would find myself being beaten up, yet with a clear understanding of what I could do, I would simply correct my mistake and hit them back. BUT, if that is so, then WHO is beating me in the first place? Those two guys have moved ahead in time, so I should find myself alone, right? It DOES seem slightly ridiculous, to think that as we move ahead, we are leaving duplicate copies of us behind to do exactly as we did!
Similarly, think of future travel. This scores slightly better than the past, but still worth pondering over.If the future is what is yet to happen, then shouldn't we find nothing but emptiness there? The time traveler has surged ahead of everyone, but others are yet to catch up with him. We make the future. You are reading this blog now, you may get irritated and shut down the computer and go out with friends. If you travel ahead in time, will you find yourselves having fun with your friends? How can you, since what you did was at the spur of the moment and when your friends haven't traveled ahead with you in time?
Such doubts made me realize the importance of the words 'time and space'. Time travel isn't restricted to traveling in time ONLY. It involves the travel of space too, i.e. traveling with the 'events' of time, instead of purely time, which should only lead to emptiness! Obviously, I am not any kind of scientist, nor a philosophy scholar. When the time comes for time travelling, these things would have been thought through and through (they may already have been, for all we know) and I'll be left feeling like a champion oaf for trying to be over-smart!
Moving on to simpler things, suppose we assume the fact that the past and the future are playing out on their own, while we are in the present. In such a scenario, a lot of interesting possibilities come up. One is called the predestination paradox. This is related to travelling to the past. Here, time travelers attempt to influence the past through their actions, only to end up influencing it in the very manner it had happened. For e.g. I go back in time to help my 'past self' with his examination which he failed. I go and whisper all the answers, confusing him and eventually causing him to fail, to correct which I go back in time in the first place! A similar, but more confusing concept is the ontological paradox. It involves the transfer of objects or ideas to the past, thereby creating a loop. Wikipedia quotes the best example to explain this. A man, who wants to build a time machine, is visited by his future version, who gives him the blueprint of the machine. He builds it over the years and when he finishes it, he is the one who goes back in time to help his past self! These paradoxes though, have been massively simplified and I need to understand them much more before I can discuss them any further.
My 3rd set of ideas relate to some unexplainable phenomenon we come across daily. Maybe they are the products of time travel! The alien spaceships people that people purportedly witness. Maybe they are flying vehicles developed by our future selves, who have come back in time to see us! [THE NEXT LINE MAY DEEPLY OFFEND GOD BELIEVERS, I ADVISE THEM NOT TO READ IT, AND IF THEY DO, THEN PLEASE DON'T GET OFFENDED. THESE ARE MY IDEAS AND MY "IDEAS" ONLY. I HAVE NO MALICIOUS INTENTIONS] Maybe, our future selves grow in stature (evolution), become 'God-like', develop a way of time traveling and then decide to visit OUR distance past. Thus, our ancestors may have seen our future selves, became awed and started worshiping them which we continue to do till this day.
Thus, presented in as little a nutshell as possible, are my ideas on time travel. It is a mysterious and fascinating field, to say the least and I sincerely hope that mankind makes some kind of progress in this. Maybe, my future self deciphers all these riddles and will be coming back in time to tell me. Another blog then, for sure! Till then, respect the past, stay in the present and plan the future!
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