Lots of people have touched my life without whom I wouldn't be in exactly in the same position as now I am in this society. I call all of them as gurus because they have taught me how to have a living.
To start with as one of the Sanskrit sloka says "Maathrubyo namah, Pitrubhyo namah, Archaryebhyo namah", parents are the first gurus who have taught us how to behave and respect others. Some qualities come from genes and some are cultivated in us when we are young which of-course don't remember now.
The third and most important of all the "gurus" is the acharya, or the teacher. A teacher is a person who comes in many forms. Most of us having not studied in "gurukul" system of study we never have opportunity to see the guru-shishya(teacher-student) relationship. Having studied in convents where medium of instructions were in English no wonder we even ever heard of gurukul way of earning knowledge.
But, in-spite of saying the above I have seen few teachers in my schooling days who really inspire students to get motivated to do things on their own. I would like to dedicate this post to all those Archaryas.
First of all I would like to credit my primary school teacher, Mrs. Mythili, who taught me basics of math without which I wouldn't be good at quantitative aptitude and not even close to studying computer science.
Secondly, I am grateful to my language teachers(English and Kannada) at high school who developed my interest in books and literature without which my grammar would be so bad that you couldn't have even made out what I have written in this post. (First of all I would have not dared to write any :P)
Thirdly, the credit goes to lots of books which provided me knowledge, taught me different words and there usage increasing my vocabulary day-by-day.
Fourth, My favorite lecturers of all time... Awesome foursome.. Mr. Gururaj sir, Mr. Divakar Bhat, Mr. M N Laxman, Mr. Sheshachalam (Who took majors PCMB, in order) Who made me burn the night oil and churn out my best in the entrance exams for Engineering without which I wouldn't have secured ranking of 176 in Karnataka, Common entrance test.
I appreciate the friendly lecturers at graduation who exactly knew our brilliant capability to perform in tests and allowed us to be free during class hours.. helping us to prepare for CAT, GATE and other entrance exams for Masters. One of whom I remember the most is Mrs. Padmashri madam, who stressed the importance of practical learning and application than theoretical study for the sake of exams.
I would like to remember external guide at HP internship, Mr. Shyam, for providing me with a fair project for university and an insight to the industry.
But the learning doesn't stop after coming out of University courses! We are all "learners for life". Coming to the industry self-learning and sharing of knowledge was the need. Interacting with the senior most guys and getting to know what exactly we are in need of is been really challenging till-date because information is so cluttered among lots of people I find but no proper way it is put to communicate to a "new fish"! Knowledge is the motive to survive too in this industry for quite a long time till you get out-dated or technology is super upgraded! I thank all my colleagues and team leads for sharing valuable information and making my work easier, faster and me smarter ;)
I have great regards to my flute teacher for whatever minute drop of knowledge that I have in the ocean of Swaras!
Of-late I got to know a lot of things about my bullet due to my mechanic, Mr. Nandan, a skilled worker and well educated about the classic machine who even showed me machine drawings of fork suspension and explained why diesel engines are not good in bikes for the Madras IITian, who visited the workshop when I was getting my bike serviced. I am amazed at his dedication!
There are always other kinds of gurus whom you don't recognize as you take them for granted when it comes to learning from them. They are called "friends" :)
I wouldn't like to mention names here as it wouldn't be possible to mention them all in the post. But each of the wonderful kinship have a nice story behind them. It is like you explore yourself being in the company of others who think exactly alike as you do! Not surprising many of us have friends more of our age-group and that makes us feel secure and share our deepest feelings and inner thoughts which we wouldn't even share with some of our family members. We try to find qualities like trust, affection being close to someone as we always seek out for that someone who gives some nice company to fight against boredom, protection like elder brother, the care of a mother, being as respectable as a father, as kiddish as always torturing younger sibling (though we enjoy it within).
There are lots to learn even from you partner in a relationship about love, commitment and also from your kids who will have more IQ than what you had at their age!!!
Thanks for all those who have influenced my life in a positive way and I wish to see lot more gurus in life.
The fear(of vastness to learn), vinaya(Not being boastful) and bhakti(respect for guru's knowledge) are the most desirable qualities of a student no matter what he learns from his teacher.
Let me get back to learning! ;)
Adios!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Freedom ride
Sunday - 16th August 2009, One more memorable day in my life.
I didn't know what to name this post, but since my "independent" ride was soon next after independence day I aptly named it so.
I was having one more of a lazy weekend (as usual)... sleeping, sleeping and more sleeping, stuck to my couch, wrapped up in bed, not sure of sunrise or sunset! maybe even the clock had doubts in displaying AM/PM! with awesome drizzling weather outside..this Saturday.
Few of our college friends tried to meet-up for lunch on Sunday noon but in vain. :( So nothing much fun this weekend, I thought and again pillow was my "best friend" till 10.30am on Sunday morning.
Mom called me up to get up and wash my face to come out of just-now-got-up look, for her elder brother had come home to bless her with arishina/kumkum (A custom which is usually observed, similar to Raksha bhandhan in North, I suppose) for the Gowri festival, Next Sunday. How sweet of him to come to our place, I thought.. and so sooner did the thought of me going to my cousin sister's place crossed my mind and that is when I decided to goto Mysore!!! It was already 11am on Sunday morning. Me, not yet having a bath or breakfast, realizing my thought was far from reality but I always am game for making probable things possible :)
Having no commitments/meetings, I had all the time in the world to get ready for 100 mile journey from Bangalore. I got it all arranged in quick time. Had a quick-short bath and light breakfast and bidding a tata :) to my parents I started my bike after a long time. My companion, bullet doesn't give up on me in crisis like this.. It started smooth as if I had "buttered" the inside of the engine the day before! Off I leave to Mysore at 12:15pm packing an extra set of clothes and fueling up in a nearby service station off the Mysore road.
I drove slowly for about 20-30 kms for getting the engine hotter. It was around 2pm when I reached kamat(not a Kha-Mat :P) restaurant, 11 Kms behind Maddur. Jowar roti meals with Brinjal curry(they call it ennegai) is too good a feast when you are really really hungry. I called up my mom to say that I was having lunch at Maddur and mom couldn't believe her ears as she had heard my words as a foolish thought and wouldn't do such a thing in reality to drive away so far!
I disturbed my mechanic a couple of times to guide me to tighten brake nuts(The splashing of rain water to rear brakes lessen the effect of drum brakes) and to check the need for topping up of engine-oil, dust in carb-valve. His solutions worked out well.
It was 3pm already but I enjoyed the ride and scenic beauty around as it was drizzling for few moments and bright sunshine the next. There was no need to rip my bike and go fast as I had already plans to come back next morning. Slow and steady, I dodged some bad part of Mysore road on the way and soon I reached the "royal" city of palaces.
Mysore is not the same as before when me and our family used to live there a decade back. It is stretching outwards just like Bangalore with coming up of ring roads and bypass roads. Those were the days where every road had a -puram attached to it! now replaced by large blocks of vast sites called colony.
It was not difficult in finding way to my uncle's place as I had already known the landmarks. I surprised everyone by my untimely visit and It was nice to see everyone at home. It was a almost a year since I had been to their place. I had loads of fun at uncle's place that evening. We played pagade (desi version of dice game - ludo) which I used to play with my late Grandma during school-days. It brought back a lot of memories. Aunt prepared nice onion bajji.. too good for the chilling weather :) Great to know that little sister's education is going well. Nice to know her ambitions of completing BBM with CS and taking up further MBA in Bangalore university. Youngest sibling sister of all in our family is in her 10th grade and kudos to see that she has joined Bharathanatyam senior in dancing classes. I spent a lot of time looking out for myself in uncle's marriage album and had hearty laugh at "young myself" :D
I went back to childhood looking at the cute barbie doll sisters treasured in their photo-album. Sad, that I dont have my own photos when I was a little kid. I seemed like more of Kamsa rather than Krishna when they used to get me fancy dressed for a photo shootout :P
It was late and heavy lashing rains outside with a bit power cuts in between, we could not go out for strolling around famous Mysore palace. Also I had to leave early next morning back to Bangalore. So I was forced to sleep at 11pm to get up early at 4:30am. Its been ages since I slept so early.. I am quite nocturnal type who usually does not go sleep without seeing 1:00am on clock. But due to the tiredness of treacherous journey biking for hours made me sleep like a baby. I do get sleep anyplace,anywhere in this world, even on a stone bench, when I want to rest ;)
Over-cautious of missing my work on Monday, I got up before the alarm. Ready at 5am, I left back to Bangalore and drove all the 140+kms at one strech without a break! till I reached home. This was my longest non-stop journey. Poor engine had to bare all the torture but I accelerated "with care" :).. I didn't care about my back pain and I couldn't stop anywhere because there was torrential rains from the beginning till the end of this journey and I was half drenched!! Not even Niagara falls come close to seeing of such a beautiful rainfall!
I reached back home at 8:15am and had hot shower to ease my cold numb fingers. But my mind was still numb in memories enjoying a memorable day gone by. I had enjoyed each and every single moment, A real bliss!
I didn't know what to name this post, but since my "independent" ride was soon next after independence day I aptly named it so.
I was having one more of a lazy weekend (as usual)... sleeping, sleeping and more sleeping, stuck to my couch, wrapped up in bed, not sure of sunrise or sunset! maybe even the clock had doubts in displaying AM/PM! with awesome drizzling weather outside..this Saturday.
Few of our college friends tried to meet-up for lunch on Sunday noon but in vain. :( So nothing much fun this weekend, I thought and again pillow was my "best friend" till 10.30am on Sunday morning.
Mom called me up to get up and wash my face to come out of just-now-got-up look, for her elder brother had come home to bless her with arishina/kumkum (A custom which is usually observed, similar to Raksha bhandhan in North, I suppose) for the Gowri festival, Next Sunday. How sweet of him to come to our place, I thought.. and so sooner did the thought of me going to my cousin sister's place crossed my mind and that is when I decided to goto Mysore!!! It was already 11am on Sunday morning. Me, not yet having a bath or breakfast, realizing my thought was far from reality but I always am game for making probable things possible :)
Having no commitments/meetings, I had all the time in the world to get ready for 100 mile journey from Bangalore. I got it all arranged in quick time. Had a quick-short bath and light breakfast and bidding a tata :) to my parents I started my bike after a long time. My companion, bullet doesn't give up on me in crisis like this.. It started smooth as if I had "buttered" the inside of the engine the day before! Off I leave to Mysore at 12:15pm packing an extra set of clothes and fueling up in a nearby service station off the Mysore road.
I drove slowly for about 20-30 kms for getting the engine hotter. It was around 2pm when I reached kamat(not a Kha-Mat :P) restaurant, 11 Kms behind Maddur. Jowar roti meals with Brinjal curry(they call it ennegai) is too good a feast when you are really really hungry. I called up my mom to say that I was having lunch at Maddur and mom couldn't believe her ears as she had heard my words as a foolish thought and wouldn't do such a thing in reality to drive away so far!
I disturbed my mechanic a couple of times to guide me to tighten brake nuts(The splashing of rain water to rear brakes lessen the effect of drum brakes) and to check the need for topping up of engine-oil, dust in carb-valve. His solutions worked out well.
It was 3pm already but I enjoyed the ride and scenic beauty around as it was drizzling for few moments and bright sunshine the next. There was no need to rip my bike and go fast as I had already plans to come back next morning. Slow and steady, I dodged some bad part of Mysore road on the way and soon I reached the "royal" city of palaces.
Mysore is not the same as before when me and our family used to live there a decade back. It is stretching outwards just like Bangalore with coming up of ring roads and bypass roads. Those were the days where every road had a -puram attached to it! now replaced by large blocks of vast sites called colony.
It was not difficult in finding way to my uncle's place as I had already known the landmarks. I surprised everyone by my untimely visit and It was nice to see everyone at home. It was a almost a year since I had been to their place. I had loads of fun at uncle's place that evening. We played pagade (desi version of dice game - ludo) which I used to play with my late Grandma during school-days. It brought back a lot of memories. Aunt prepared nice onion bajji.. too good for the chilling weather :) Great to know that little sister's education is going well. Nice to know her ambitions of completing BBM with CS and taking up further MBA in Bangalore university. Youngest sibling sister of all in our family is in her 10th grade and kudos to see that she has joined Bharathanatyam senior in dancing classes. I spent a lot of time looking out for myself in uncle's marriage album and had hearty laugh at "young myself" :D
I went back to childhood looking at the cute barbie doll sisters treasured in their photo-album. Sad, that I dont have my own photos when I was a little kid. I seemed like more of Kamsa rather than Krishna when they used to get me fancy dressed for a photo shootout :P
It was late and heavy lashing rains outside with a bit power cuts in between, we could not go out for strolling around famous Mysore palace. Also I had to leave early next morning back to Bangalore. So I was forced to sleep at 11pm to get up early at 4:30am. Its been ages since I slept so early.. I am quite nocturnal type who usually does not go sleep without seeing 1:00am on clock. But due to the tiredness of treacherous journey biking for hours made me sleep like a baby. I do get sleep anyplace,anywhere in this world, even on a stone bench, when I want to rest ;)
Over-cautious of missing my work on Monday, I got up before the alarm. Ready at 5am, I left back to Bangalore and drove all the 140+kms at one strech without a break! till I reached home. This was my longest non-stop journey. Poor engine had to bare all the torture but I accelerated "with care" :).. I didn't care about my back pain and I couldn't stop anywhere because there was torrential rains from the beginning till the end of this journey and I was half drenched!! Not even Niagara falls come close to seeing of such a beautiful rainfall!
I reached back home at 8:15am and had hot shower to ease my cold numb fingers. But my mind was still numb in memories enjoying a memorable day gone by. I had enjoyed each and every single moment, A real bliss!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
The Monsoon ride
We, THE bulleteers scaled a new milestone few weeks back, riding through the everlasting rain and hairpin bends of the western ghats. The treacherous journey was worth the pain.
It was a beautiful friday morning(3rd of july)..an extended weekend "spirit" had already arouse- all set for long distance driving to Ooty(Ootacamund),TN.
It all started with Arvin, Visakh, Jai, Sunil and others organized by crossworks/travel-life with sponsors like Red Bull and Wranglers.
After preparing a list of to-do items like RC book update, Fitness certificate, Insurance, money, fueling up for the ride, the actual ride! then finally comes the last thing on my list(after the ride) a travelogue about the memorable journey. I have been updating and saving this as draft all these writings during weekends as i didn't have time to complete and post it. You know how worth is a weekend for an adventurous Software engineer like me ;)
Anyway, coming back to the thumping and roaring of engines on the state/national highways.. I should say this was my first long bike trip on my first bike which i had driven less than what 900 odd kms that we covered in those three days. Just a month after buying and riding in city conditions, it's a daring task to climb the ooty hill but with guidance of 20+ other bulleteers it was a good experience. It wasn't a drag of any kind but we enjoyed the ride.
Day 1, We met first in the country club resort on Mysore road,(Next to Raja-rajeshwari dental college, kumbalgod) to munch the breakfast, idli-vada-sambar and sandwich. After fueling ourselves with heavy breakfast we got our bike's tuned for long journey. Our mechanic Mubarak (AKA Mumtaz :P), got our bikes ready for long road ahead. Tighting of break nuts, adjusting of carburetor timing.. we reached Maddur cafe coffee day for our introduction session, then we set to our next destination - Gods own country. True to its name. I have been there 4 times now and trust me, Its the most beautiful place in south India i have seen.
Leaving the tread-marks on the Mysore road we passed through the hump-ty dump-ty roads of Gundlupet where our bikes fork oil(for suspension) got warmed up. Landing in the MC resorts of Bandipur we had our lunch and set out to Panamaram, Wayanad for our home stay called ente veedu (meaning "Our house" in Malayalam). We bikers lost time in fixing up of our bikes and cleaning up of rain water logged fuel tanks(Yup! it rained as hell all three days long) and we had to drive all drenched in rain as we touched the borders of Kerala. Following only the boards available but no one else to ask in midnight we somehow reached the place and thanks to the good roads of Kerala. The best roads ofcourse promotes tourism there than anything else. The worst roads can be found in TN and in Karnataka roads are okie but not at all places though..
Finally reaching the place we found our dorms and rooms very comfortable but some continued merry in fueling themselves up with hot beverages. Of course you know I am non drinker, non smoker and Veggie, So i didn't afford any of the "so-called luxuries"! But a lot of caffeine in Red Bull energy drink had its own side effects in going to sleep. I advice not to drink more than 2-3 red bulls per day or you are gonna stay awake even on bed for more than 48 hours, Losing your brain cells instead of liver cells :P
Day 2, was a really round about way of going to Ooty from Kerala. We missed our route-maps and end-up 120 kms away from ooty after riding for severals hours which was actually more than what we had to cover if we started that properly in correct directions. But it is a part and parcel of every motorcycle diary to get lost in country roads and enjoy the serene beauty around or else where is the adventure without getting lost!? We visited a friend of Visakh whom we foLLowed all the way in Manjeri and Chungam..macha.. Chungam Chungam.. :P ( like I repeat.. repeat repeat.. Funny the way he reapeated every place while answering the phone call) Sorry dude for posting it here.. but you made our day of grand leg pulling!
It was 8pm already and 100+ kms of night driving ahead very few retreated but courage, adventure and challenge took over the fears and we hit the roads non-stop till we reached Ooty hill. It was damn cold and misty all the way up the hill. We couldn't see past each other in the heavy precipitation around. Snake-like taillights ahead on the curvy roads was so good to see.. equidistant from each other we followed each other up the hill to reach our place. As planned we couldn't goto Avalanche, in Ooty as we lost time on the way.
Day 3, Getting up late and relieved of the body pains after refreshing bath, We made our way into Holiday Inn @ Ooty, and occupied the whole of car parking lot! I suppose, We scared away a bunch of people who were having breakfast when we came drenched to the luxurious hotel. Food was awesome and we billed around 7000 for a breakfast! We had made it temporary residence in the morning hanging our rain coats and riding jackets around and helmets everywhere.. :P After a photo-shootout in the parking lot we buzzed again riding down the 36 numbered hair pin bends of the ooty hill to reach Madhumalai forest range, a continuation of Bandipur forests in TN. It seemed like we brought rains along with us all the way back to Mysore, as we could see blue-black clouds on our back heavily loaded with water which showed us no mercy even after getting out of the Ooty! We saw elephants with their cubs, Fox, Lots of deers, wild boar on our way back in the morning which is very rare to see even if we go for night safari! Hitting the Mysore road SH-17 again.. It was pretty pathetic to see youngsters trying hard to race our constant speed Enfields which were going past 100 kmph all the way back till we reached Maddur coffee day again for a break. We cheered the other bulleteers we found on the way enjoying the ride more. At last bidding farewell to all those who accompanied three days, i reached back home at 00:00 hours on monday morning.
I slept on my couch with the thumping still ringing in my ears asking me the question "where next?" I wish to do cross country biking for 20-25 days - K2K ride (Kashmir 2 Kanyakumari), I dream to cover the highest motor-able roads in the world on the way from Himachal Pradesh - Leh-Ladakh, some fine day.. I wish I stay true to my childhood dreams, I wish the biker in me still prevails "for years to come in near future" in spite of escalating fuel price/nagging Girl Friend/Fiancée/Wife ;)
Aloha!
It was a beautiful friday morning(3rd of july)..an extended weekend "spirit" had already arouse- all set for long distance driving to Ooty(Ootacamund),TN.
It all started with Arvin, Visakh, Jai, Sunil and others organized by crossworks/travel-life with sponsors like Red Bull and Wranglers.
After preparing a list of to-do items like RC book update, Fitness certificate, Insurance, money, fueling up for the ride, the actual ride! then finally comes the last thing on my list(after the ride) a travelogue about the memorable journey. I have been updating and saving this as draft all these writings during weekends as i didn't have time to complete and post it. You know how worth is a weekend for an adventurous Software engineer like me ;)
Anyway, coming back to the thumping and roaring of engines on the state/national highways.. I should say this was my first long bike trip on my first bike which i had driven less than what 900 odd kms that we covered in those three days. Just a month after buying and riding in city conditions, it's a daring task to climb the ooty hill but with guidance of 20+ other bulleteers it was a good experience. It wasn't a drag of any kind but we enjoyed the ride.
Day 1, We met first in the country club resort on Mysore road,(Next to Raja-rajeshwari dental college, kumbalgod) to munch the breakfast, idli-vada-sambar and sandwich. After fueling ourselves with heavy breakfast we got our bike's tuned for long journey. Our mechanic Mubarak (AKA Mumtaz :P), got our bikes ready for long road ahead. Tighting of break nuts, adjusting of carburetor timing.. we reached Maddur cafe coffee day for our introduction session, then we set to our next destination - Gods own country. True to its name. I have been there 4 times now and trust me, Its the most beautiful place in south India i have seen.
Leaving the tread-marks on the Mysore road we passed through the hump-ty dump-ty roads of Gundlupet where our bikes fork oil(for suspension) got warmed up. Landing in the MC resorts of Bandipur we had our lunch and set out to Panamaram, Wayanad for our home stay called ente veedu (meaning "Our house" in Malayalam). We bikers lost time in fixing up of our bikes and cleaning up of rain water logged fuel tanks(Yup! it rained as hell all three days long) and we had to drive all drenched in rain as we touched the borders of Kerala. Following only the boards available but no one else to ask in midnight we somehow reached the place and thanks to the good roads of Kerala. The best roads ofcourse promotes tourism there than anything else. The worst roads can be found in TN and in Karnataka roads are okie but not at all places though..
Finally reaching the place we found our dorms and rooms very comfortable but some continued merry in fueling themselves up with hot beverages. Of course you know I am non drinker, non smoker and Veggie, So i didn't afford any of the "so-called luxuries"! But a lot of caffeine in Red Bull energy drink had its own side effects in going to sleep. I advice not to drink more than 2-3 red bulls per day or you are gonna stay awake even on bed for more than 48 hours, Losing your brain cells instead of liver cells :P
Day 2, was a really round about way of going to Ooty from Kerala. We missed our route-maps and end-up 120 kms away from ooty after riding for severals hours which was actually more than what we had to cover if we started that properly in correct directions. But it is a part and parcel of every motorcycle diary to get lost in country roads and enjoy the serene beauty around or else where is the adventure without getting lost!? We visited a friend of Visakh whom we foLLowed all the way in Manjeri and Chungam..macha.. Chungam Chungam.. :P ( like I repeat.. repeat repeat.. Funny the way he reapeated every place while answering the phone call) Sorry dude for posting it here.. but you made our day of grand leg pulling!
It was 8pm already and 100+ kms of night driving ahead very few retreated but courage, adventure and challenge took over the fears and we hit the roads non-stop till we reached Ooty hill. It was damn cold and misty all the way up the hill. We couldn't see past each other in the heavy precipitation around. Snake-like taillights ahead on the curvy roads was so good to see.. equidistant from each other we followed each other up the hill to reach our place. As planned we couldn't goto Avalanche, in Ooty as we lost time on the way.
Day 3, Getting up late and relieved of the body pains after refreshing bath, We made our way into Holiday Inn @ Ooty, and occupied the whole of car parking lot! I suppose, We scared away a bunch of people who were having breakfast when we came drenched to the luxurious hotel. Food was awesome and we billed around 7000 for a breakfast! We had made it temporary residence in the morning hanging our rain coats and riding jackets around and helmets everywhere.. :P After a photo-shootout in the parking lot we buzzed again riding down the 36 numbered hair pin bends of the ooty hill to reach Madhumalai forest range, a continuation of Bandipur forests in TN. It seemed like we brought rains along with us all the way back to Mysore, as we could see blue-black clouds on our back heavily loaded with water which showed us no mercy even after getting out of the Ooty! We saw elephants with their cubs, Fox, Lots of deers, wild boar on our way back in the morning which is very rare to see even if we go for night safari! Hitting the Mysore road SH-17 again.. It was pretty pathetic to see youngsters trying hard to race our constant speed Enfields which were going past 100 kmph all the way back till we reached Maddur coffee day again for a break. We cheered the other bulleteers we found on the way enjoying the ride more. At last bidding farewell to all those who accompanied three days, i reached back home at 00:00 hours on monday morning.
I slept on my couch with the thumping still ringing in my ears asking me the question "where next?" I wish to do cross country biking for 20-25 days - K2K ride (Kashmir 2 Kanyakumari), I dream to cover the highest motor-able roads in the world on the way from Himachal Pradesh - Leh-Ladakh, some fine day.. I wish I stay true to my childhood dreams, I wish the biker in me still prevails "for years to come in near future" in spite of escalating fuel price/nagging Girl Friend/Fiancée/Wife ;)
Aloha!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Riding gears and safety tips for driving
The helmet is such a protective armor which has helped me to survive till this day to write this blog post about safety and riding gears.
I am a kind of person not riding above 80km/hr, who obeys all traffic rules and regulations no matter how long/hard it takes but in some conditions where the adrenaline rush makes you loose your temper you got to be very careful. So better take precaution than cure/even more disastrous! since life itself cannot be given warranty these days.
I have had bad experiences in riding brothers bike, pulsar 150cc, Well, Its not about the bike that i am talking, but it is all about the Bangalore traffic population increasing day-by-day and "Yamdhoot"-like Leyland lorries(no offense if i used any Trade Mark name here) on the ring road and reckless driving in inter-town roads and lack of streetlights within the so called well planned layouts!
This happened to me somewhere 8 months back soon after I joined Freescale CPG (Can now be called a bad omen coz of its closure :P). Fortunalety, the mishap took place right in front of north-side hospital close to my house. There were 2 guys on the bike plus a kid of around 10 years of age who had probably come to hospital and the rider was searching for a place in parking lot stopping in the middle of the road! looking left and right he suddenly barges into an empty slot with a right turn and there i was following right behind him without knowing what he was upto as he had not put any indicators. Bang goes the collision, not with a loud explosion but i skid off to my right after overtaking him with quite a large distance about 10-15ft to rip off my right shoulder's skin and knee and ankle, but not a scratch on my face/head - without the helmet I wouldn't have survived! I suddenly got up barged to the driver scolding him without even looking at my profusely bleeding injuries. I removed my helmet to see the dent on it and thanked god for establishing the hospital right next to the scene. As i went inside the nurse got panic and called for help! and asked me if i had filed FIR since they refused to treat me as this is an accident case! WTH!(Doc's suck more blood than what i was bleeding out). I said its ok i haven't informed any police.. just do the first aid and give me a shot of Diclofenac, anti swelling painkiller. The tantra T-shirt(you can imagine how thin it will be) which had a huge patch of about 10 cms through which the red-flesh of my right shoulders were visible and the shirt soiled and stuck to my bloody(not to be read in adjectival form :P) arms.
The point of using so many adjectives and adverbs in my last statement is not to exagerrate the accident but to make you all aware of how important is safety while drving. Well, Coming back to the point now ( after a long-long story of mine ;) ), Use of good protective riding gears saves your life, after all you don't love anyone more than yourself, do you!?
Today, I went to cramster sales-outlet and having heard of the DSG, textile and other "brands" famous for the motorcycle riding gears and bought myself the protective gears necessary for my bike trips / driving on and off roads. Even though it exceeded my budget (crossing +1000 bucks) I went for it as it is now affordable as a software engineer but not when i was a student. After all its a matter of safety and thus I compromised it for money.
Of-course foremost thing a biker must have is a helmet. I own a Studds helmet, flame blue in colour which I had bought while having the bike. It costed me Rs.1200/-(All prices in INR as on June 2009. Best place to buy JC road bangalore) A full helmet with ventilator at the base, available in many sizes. The name says it all for the safety.
Then comes the other parts of the body prone for injuries during mishap - elbows, knees and shoulders. Pain is unbearable when bone has an impact during injury leave alone fractures. Trust me if you have never had one! So next thing you need to go is for a proper riding jacket with armor for elbows/shoulders/back. I bought a cramster pulse(blue),same as the one below. Costed me Rs.5200/- But its worth the deal. Loaded with all that you can ask for. Has optional zipper to attach riding pants, with removable themolite lining for warmth and fully rainproof suitable for all Indian weather.
Next comes the palms/fingers/knuckles on which you directly land if you fall off the bike. Having a pair of riding gloves really helps to take away all the scrubbing of the rough fall. I bought the below TRG1 riding gloves though it crossed my budget. It cost me a whooping Rs.2100/-!!
Riding pants are optional, if you can afford them.
Oh! How could I ever forget the pair of all-terrain Woodland shoes with above all!
If you are loooking out for safety gears, I recommend the below link. Its @ cunningham road, Bangalore. more details @ http://www.cramster.in/ridinggear.php
There are a couple of other leather jacket stores in commercial street, you can visit them too.
Now that I am fully loaded, let me burn all NH's of India with my bikes tread-marks :D
Adios then :)
I am a kind of person not riding above 80km/hr, who obeys all traffic rules and regulations no matter how long/hard it takes but in some conditions where the adrenaline rush makes you loose your temper you got to be very careful. So better take precaution than cure/even more disastrous! since life itself cannot be given warranty these days.
I have had bad experiences in riding brothers bike, pulsar 150cc, Well, Its not about the bike that i am talking, but it is all about the Bangalore traffic population increasing day-by-day and "Yamdhoot"-like Leyland lorries(no offense if i used any Trade Mark name here) on the ring road and reckless driving in inter-town roads and lack of streetlights within the so called well planned layouts!
This happened to me somewhere 8 months back soon after I joined Freescale CPG (Can now be called a bad omen coz of its closure :P). Fortunalety, the mishap took place right in front of north-side hospital close to my house. There were 2 guys on the bike plus a kid of around 10 years of age who had probably come to hospital and the rider was searching for a place in parking lot stopping in the middle of the road! looking left and right he suddenly barges into an empty slot with a right turn and there i was following right behind him without knowing what he was upto as he had not put any indicators. Bang goes the collision, not with a loud explosion but i skid off to my right after overtaking him with quite a large distance about 10-15ft to rip off my right shoulder's skin and knee and ankle, but not a scratch on my face/head - without the helmet I wouldn't have survived! I suddenly got up barged to the driver scolding him without even looking at my profusely bleeding injuries. I removed my helmet to see the dent on it and thanked god for establishing the hospital right next to the scene. As i went inside the nurse got panic and called for help! and asked me if i had filed FIR since they refused to treat me as this is an accident case! WTH!(Doc's suck more blood than what i was bleeding out). I said its ok i haven't informed any police.. just do the first aid and give me a shot of Diclofenac, anti swelling painkiller. The tantra T-shirt(you can imagine how thin it will be) which had a huge patch of about 10 cms through which the red-flesh of my right shoulders were visible and the shirt soiled and stuck to my bloody(not to be read in adjectival form :P) arms.
The point of using so many adjectives and adverbs in my last statement is not to exagerrate the accident but to make you all aware of how important is safety while drving. Well, Coming back to the point now ( after a long-long story of mine ;) ), Use of good protective riding gears saves your life, after all you don't love anyone more than yourself, do you!?
Today, I went to cramster sales-outlet and having heard of the DSG, textile and other "brands" famous for the motorcycle riding gears and bought myself the protective gears necessary for my bike trips / driving on and off roads. Even though it exceeded my budget (crossing +1000 bucks) I went for it as it is now affordable as a software engineer but not when i was a student. After all its a matter of safety and thus I compromised it for money.
Of-course foremost thing a biker must have is a helmet. I own a Studds helmet, flame blue in colour which I had bought while having the bike. It costed me Rs.1200/-(All prices in INR as on June 2009. Best place to buy JC road bangalore) A full helmet with ventilator at the base, available in many sizes. The name says it all for the safety.
Then comes the other parts of the body prone for injuries during mishap - elbows, knees and shoulders. Pain is unbearable when bone has an impact during injury leave alone fractures. Trust me if you have never had one! So next thing you need to go is for a proper riding jacket with armor for elbows/shoulders/back. I bought a cramster pulse(blue),same as the one below. Costed me Rs.5200/- But its worth the deal. Loaded with all that you can ask for. Has optional zipper to attach riding pants, with removable themolite lining for warmth and fully rainproof suitable for all Indian weather.
Next comes the palms/fingers/knuckles on which you directly land if you fall off the bike. Having a pair of riding gloves really helps to take away all the scrubbing of the rough fall. I bought the below TRG1 riding gloves though it crossed my budget. It cost me a whooping Rs.2100/-!!
Riding pants are optional, if you can afford them.Oh! How could I ever forget the pair of all-terrain Woodland shoes with above all!
If you are loooking out for safety gears, I recommend the below link. Its @ cunningham road, Bangalore. more details @ http://www.cramster.in/ridinggear.php
There are a couple of other leather jacket stores in commercial street, you can visit them too.
Now that I am fully loaded, let me burn all NH's of India with my bikes tread-marks :D
Adios then :)
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Coming up - Ooty road trip on Enfield bullet!
Its been 2 months since I posted something new (exciting!) things happening in my life. But rather I should say I had no time during weekends over the last month as I have bought a 1983 Royal Enfield Bullet and have been on a spin of late.
I want to now living my dreams and enjoy my bacherlor-hood :)
The hunt for the "vintage"( still not old enough to call it so?) was awesome. It was one of my childhood dreams to buy this macho-machine!Having driven cousin's enfield thunderbird for a couple of days made my decision of buying more easier 'n stronger. Passionate about the power and performance, I searched for the ONE and got a bullet 350cc Std for pretty decent Rs. 42K(with registration). I should rather say it i'm lucky coz the engine is in mint condition and the reason for it is that gives an awesome mileage of around 35kmpl in my driving, for its torque-to-weight ratio!
I had seen nearly 5 bullets before buying this, and one out of them was too good (1972 model, Heavy Crank england Engine) but was a bit more costlier (around 50K, negotiable upto 47K. If anyone is willing to buy I shall still call him up to see if he still owns it. It is really a good one, and i can vouch for it!)
The minute problems exist which i can say are "cosmetic" without troubling the heart beat(thump of engine), like my bike's speedometer has turned down from past few days, the stand spring has turned loose and drops if i overspeed than normal at bumps.
I need to get it overhauled on monday for the long treacherous ghat section rides to Ooty on July 3-4-5 (http://www.crossworks.in/bulleteer/), organised by crossworks and travellife. Yes is it aptly named as "monsoon ride" :)
Their motto being "Biking is living, Everything else is just waiting"
Watch-out for this space, More to come after the next week expedition.
Adios :)
I want to now living my dreams and enjoy my bacherlor-hood :)
The hunt for the "vintage"( still not old enough to call it so?) was awesome. It was one of my childhood dreams to buy this macho-machine!Having driven cousin's enfield thunderbird for a couple of days made my decision of buying more easier 'n stronger. Passionate about the power and performance, I searched for the ONE and got a bullet 350cc Std for pretty decent Rs. 42K(with registration). I should rather say it i'm lucky coz the engine is in mint condition and the reason for it is that gives an awesome mileage of around 35kmpl in my driving, for its torque-to-weight ratio!
I had seen nearly 5 bullets before buying this, and one out of them was too good (1972 model, Heavy Crank england Engine) but was a bit more costlier (around 50K, negotiable upto 47K. If anyone is willing to buy I shall still call him up to see if he still owns it. It is really a good one, and i can vouch for it!)
The minute problems exist which i can say are "cosmetic" without troubling the heart beat(thump of engine), like my bike's speedometer has turned down from past few days, the stand spring has turned loose and drops if i overspeed than normal at bumps.
I need to get it overhauled on monday for the long treacherous ghat section rides to Ooty on July 3-4-5 (http://www.crossworks.in/bulleteer/), organised by crossworks and travellife. Yes is it aptly named as "monsoon ride" :)
Their motto being "Biking is living, Everything else is just waiting"
Watch-out for this space, More to come after the next week expedition.
Adios :)
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
yipee! I'm back :)
I read my last post myself and I really saw how unbalanced I was! Lots of concerns were shown and questions were asked by my well wishers and my dearest friends and now I think Its time to patch-up :P my loose talk.Seriously, I lost my mind for quite sometime as I had bad arguments at home this sunday by which I felt that I was overpowered by monstrous brutal ruthless rules just to hinder my freedom.
I was hugely wrong in saying that I had not made friends as I saw the caring reactions from dear ones soon after posting my last eccentric post.
In the about me section I had said - A "balanced strong mind" in an athletic body. When one of my friend asked if this really suited you? I pondered a lot! to know my ignorance.
Thanks for all those who lent their ears to me and helped me come out of the situation.
Never in my life again I want to be so depressed and I am really sorry for the ones I hurt during the course of time. Hope you understand me.
ssssorry soooory sorrrry sorryyyyy ;)
I promise to be always Laughing and smiling :) yipee! I'm back!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Fmylife!
People nowadays are so busy that they don't have time not even just to think of themselves.
You can call me selfish or the guy who has no work to do or gone nuts! But I always ask myself questions like - Why am I like this? What is wrong with me? How do I spend the rest of my life the best way that I can?
To be frank, I feel lonely most of the time and I am! Even though I stay together with my family, the word together is merely physical because I sense there is no mentally a good healthy bondage in my family even though I participate in this institution. I shouldn't be the one complaining/revealing about all my personal stuff but I feel this as the perfect outlet for my emotions and I don't even know how rudely I am jotting it down or how many of them I am hurting in writing this! I have been crying a lot within me that nobody notices. It hasn't turned so worst as any suicidal instinct or anything but I do feel a lot insecure even at home. Where else do I find comfort? Don't ask me to meet a psychiatrist as I have been thorough this my entire life till now, me being only closest friend of myself. I resolved into all kinds of music, books, movies-illusions of real life and what not but its all temporary diversion to feel I'm still alive. Everyone needs someone to share your feelings with, to fight with, to love, to care, to feel happy for, to be happy with.
I know that the relations that come through the blood cannot be chosen! But neither have I made really close friends whom I can share the feelings that even I don't trust telling it to my parents.
I DO WANT to live my life happily as possible and have always been in the pursuit of that happyness (with a 'y'). I have practiced and learnt to live lonely life which I know is not a socially good way of being a human being but I have been fighting to overcome it ever since I find a little bit of freedom in my way.
I don't know why even at the age of 22 I still am treated as a 13 yr old adolescent! by my parents. To be precise, I am not allowed to take decisions on my own when they are parents around! Why all the nose poking with my life even after I have started to earn my living? Why parenting when we can take care of ourselves? Always trying to force what they couldn't achieve in their life. Not letting me be somebody different. I hate them when they don't trust me. Won't they ever know that I never gonna let them down. All that I expect them is to wish me that my dreams of life never take me out or turn bad and leave me to achieve it. I feel this whole world is mine to fulfill my dreams whatever they are.
I don't know why I have become such a nerd, a geek now but as a kid I was rather forced to take up studies so seriously that I barely remember participating or rather was never allowed to participate in any extra-curricular-activities that I was so much interested in. I regret for all the things I lost in my childhood just to be a product called "yet-another-software-engineer". There are so many ways of earning a living in this world and I have realized it after seeing the industry for about an year sustaining the heat of financial crisis around. Why is that my career was chosen when I was a kid? I want peace in my life rather than running behind money.
Given a choice, I don't want to be what I am right now. I am pretty sure most of them don't want too! as everyone feels grass is always green on the other side.
I don't know many youngsters are suffering similar plight! but so is my F**ked up life! (I had never ever used the F word even with ** in my blog till now)
You can call me selfish or the guy who has no work to do or gone nuts! But I always ask myself questions like - Why am I like this? What is wrong with me? How do I spend the rest of my life the best way that I can?
To be frank, I feel lonely most of the time and I am! Even though I stay together with my family, the word together is merely physical because I sense there is no mentally a good healthy bondage in my family even though I participate in this institution. I shouldn't be the one complaining/revealing about all my personal stuff but I feel this as the perfect outlet for my emotions and I don't even know how rudely I am jotting it down or how many of them I am hurting in writing this! I have been crying a lot within me that nobody notices. It hasn't turned so worst as any suicidal instinct or anything but I do feel a lot insecure even at home. Where else do I find comfort? Don't ask me to meet a psychiatrist as I have been thorough this my entire life till now, me being only closest friend of myself. I resolved into all kinds of music, books, movies-illusions of real life and what not but its all temporary diversion to feel I'm still alive. Everyone needs someone to share your feelings with, to fight with, to love, to care, to feel happy for, to be happy with.
I know that the relations that come through the blood cannot be chosen! But neither have I made really close friends whom I can share the feelings that even I don't trust telling it to my parents.
I DO WANT to live my life happily as possible and have always been in the pursuit of that happyness (with a 'y'). I have practiced and learnt to live lonely life which I know is not a socially good way of being a human being but I have been fighting to overcome it ever since I find a little bit of freedom in my way.
I don't know why even at the age of 22 I still am treated as a 13 yr old adolescent! by my parents. To be precise, I am not allowed to take decisions on my own when they are parents around! Why all the nose poking with my life even after I have started to earn my living? Why parenting when we can take care of ourselves? Always trying to force what they couldn't achieve in their life. Not letting me be somebody different. I hate them when they don't trust me. Won't they ever know that I never gonna let them down. All that I expect them is to wish me that my dreams of life never take me out or turn bad and leave me to achieve it. I feel this whole world is mine to fulfill my dreams whatever they are.
I don't know why I have become such a nerd, a geek now but as a kid I was rather forced to take up studies so seriously that I barely remember participating or rather was never allowed to participate in any extra-curricular-activities that I was so much interested in. I regret for all the things I lost in my childhood just to be a product called "yet-another-software-engineer". There are so many ways of earning a living in this world and I have realized it after seeing the industry for about an year sustaining the heat of financial crisis around. Why is that my career was chosen when I was a kid? I want peace in my life rather than running behind money.
Given a choice, I don't want to be what I am right now. I am pretty sure most of them don't want too! as everyone feels grass is always green on the other side.
I don't know many youngsters are suffering similar plight! but so is my F**ked up life! (I had never ever used the F word even with ** in my blog till now)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)