Gangotri

Gangotri was damn chill.. It was nt like Uttarkashi. Especially when we reached there at night eleven. We all had dinner and went to sleep at midnight. We were supposed to start our trek next morn as early as 8.
Bt we could only start by 2 hrs later.

We had been to the temple in Gangotri where we find Ganga Mayya and Shivji.
Had we been there at 6am, we could have had darshan in five min. As we were late by an hour and a half, we waited in the long queue and had darshan.

All those who had been to temple, came back n had breakfast, packed bags and started our trek.. here we go...
The actual trek starts from now...

Uttarkashi

It was sunday the 20th of may when we landed in uttarkashi at around 11:30 am..

Weather her was good.. moderate.. nt too humid or cold..

Here, we met Bal Bahaddur--our guide..

He had booked rooms for us in a lodge where all of us were checking in our luggage. Just then we realised that Shubha's ruck sack was missing. She was horrified.. donno wat words will exactly express her state at that moment. She burst into tears. Meshtru alias CSP and Pradeep was trying to console her. Her quotes while she was crying "Pradeep, i wanna go back n search for my bag. Pls Pradeep.. come pradeep" Those words are still lingering in my ears.

In between, my dearest friend suma while consoling shubha cracked a PJ for which shubha broke into laughter.. Suma said "If u come to a holy place and lose things then u r lucky..." Suma was telling her to be happy as she could buy all new things and wear..

CSP and Chitra had got almost everything extra. They spared a shirt, pant and brush for her. We all filled the Mountain Support Forms, affixed a photo and signed it. Bal bahaddur collected it next morn for furher processing seeking permission from the local authorities.

In the evening, all of us went to temple and shopped for some things like the sweater, monkey cap and gloves.

We discovered the local salad shop and enjoyed the fruit n vegetable salad. Me and Suma had a BIG glass of milk from a street vendor.

Next day some of them were loafing around till we got permission to take off.. Me, Suma, chitra, Pradeep, Shubha, Chandra, Loki. Prathibha and Pada went to Mountaineering Institute from our lodge. It was a kind of warm up trek for us. On the way, we had to cross a bridge on the river(supposed to be Bhaageerathi) where we took some snaps. We also took some snaps with the hay basket that will be carried by women there.

Finally at 3:30 in the noon we got permission to go ahead till tapovan.

We checked out and left to Gangotri at 4pm.

In and around Delhi

After reaching the airport, we checked out our luggage and came out of the airport where CK was awaiting our arrival. We made a mini bus from Airport to ISBT(Inter State Bus Terminal) as we had to leave to Hrishikesh from Delhi.

On our way to ISBT, we could spot Saravana Bhavan in Cannaught place. All of us were damn hungry. We got down from the bus paying him. All of us started batting in this hotel. Some of the dishes that were ordered were Rava Onion Masala Dosa, Rava Onion Coconut Masala Dosa, upma etc.

From there we left to ISBT in Delhi Metro. We had to alight at Kashmere Gate to get to ISBT.

Unfortunately, that day the strike was called off by the bus drivers in Delhi. U must be wondering as to y it was unfortunate. Rather we were fortunate. Unfortunate cos though the strike was called off, there were very few buses that came into the platform.

There is total anarchy in delhi. No maintenace in the bus stand. No proper syste. We started feeling Our Karnataka and namma Bengalooru is so organised and still we blame the civic authorities. Here nothing is ordered and nobody bothers. Some buses that came in did not allow anyone in as the driver would go ot the ticket counter in the platform and issue tickets. Those with tickets were allowed. In some buses, conductor issued tickets inside the bus. What a nightmare it was to get 15 seats and space for our luggage in the bus.

We had been waiting for the bus from 11am at ISBT. Finally at 3pm, we had to split ourselves into two groups - one grp of 10 and other of 5 to get to hrishikesh.

We reached Hrishikesh at night 10 O'clock. There was a dhaba open for us. He served us meals, lassi and tea.

Filling our stomach we headed to a place in auto where we get taxi to Uttarkshi (the place where we would meet our trek guide Mr.Bal Bahaddur). The autos in Hrishikesh were not the sort of autos we see in namma Bengalooru. They are passenger autos which can carry 10 men at once. So spacious.. Ahhh!!

It was night 11:30 when we reached there. That midnight we celebrated CSP's birthday. Prathibha(CSP's cousin) had got some golden and silver colored "Glitters" to put on CSP. That did not go inspite of washing. He was looking like a shining man :P

We had to wait till 5am to start off our journey as the Toll Gates would open only then. We arranged 2 Tata Sumos for ourselves and left to Uttarkashi at 5am.

Bangalore - Delhi

May 19 2007, we left Bangalore to Delhi by flight. Our flight was at 5:55am. We all assembled in the airport at 4:45am. Checked in our luggages and got the boarding passes. We got into the flight.

It was a first time experience in flight for some of them who had come with us. They were more excited abt this journey. Loki was literally like a little schoolboy. He had occupied window seat :D. He's more left handed. He clapped as soon as the flight took off frm Bangalore's HAL airport.

Me, Prathiba and Priya were seated together. Prathiba, the chatter box constantly murmuring and disturbing my sleep. She doesnt(get) sleep during journeys. She caught a nice companion Priya to chat. I had to pity Priya who though not too interested seem to continue chat for such a long time.

Shubha, Suma and Pradeep were seated together. Dont knw as to what was going on there.

CSP, chitra were sitting together. Of course brother caring for his sweet sis.

Vishy lonely married man enjoying his sleep.

Chandra, the click man who was lost in his world of photography.

Raj - the lonely schummi.

Sripad alias Pada was the backseater.

Wonder where was Manju mom. guess with CSP and Chitra.

CK had come by train awaiting our arrival in the Delhi Airport.

Thankfully, we reached Delhi at the expected time without any delays.

Himalay trek - preface

Himalaya trek.. hmmm.. dont be misled that it was a trek to the Mt. Everest. This was a trek in the himalayan region. This was supposed to be a 16 day expedition which involved 12 days of rigorous trek covering a distance of 100-120 km.

Our Aim: khalindikal pass which is at a height of 19000 and odd feet(1000ft higher than Mt.Everest Base)

Route: Gangotri - Gaumukh - NandanVan - Vasukital - Khara Patthar - Seeta Galcier - Khalindikal pass - Badrinath

We were a group of 15 enthusiasts who set out for trek namely Chandra, Chitra, Kusuma, Loki, Manju, Pradeep, Praveen(alias CK), Prathiba, Priya, Rajesh, Sharada Prasad (alias CSP), Shubha, Sripad, Suma and Vishy.
This was our attendance order :P

We were equipped to trek this region as we had trekked in karnataka before venturing into this. The preparation was from almost 3 months. We had planned it well in advance in feb. Since then, everyday was full of dreams abt the himalayan region to me. Dreams abt the vegetation, hilly region and snowfall. All this came true when we went there. It all started like this.

Read further blogs to know more....

LASIK exp

The memories are still evergreen. It was June 22nd 2001(six years ago) and i had just completed my II PU. My results of CET had come. I had jus gone for an eye check up at Nethradhama in Jayanagar. That time it was in Jayanagar near JSS circle. Of course now also its close to the same circle but in a different direction. A year before i had read abt this Hospital and doctor performing LASIK surgery. I had not got time to go for a chek up and enquire abt this surgery till i completed my PU. Mine was a hereditary myopia. The power had gone up (cos of my rigorous studies i must say).
After they made note of the power in dioptre, I asked the doc if i could undergo this surgery. He was a bit apprehensive. He said "we will have to perform topology and retinal tests before we do this". The retina was tested for black spots. Topology probably to test the nerves(nt sure). The test turned out to be positive and Dr.SriGanesh was ready to perform this surgery. The date was finalised as june 22nd. Those days they performed operations only on friday,saturday and sunday of the week. I was very inquisitive abt this surgery. I always wanted to know what was really being done as a cure in this surgery. In fact they even arrange meetings with the people who have undergone operation for the benefit of those who would get operated. Still i didn't want to meet anyone. I was prepared for it.
My mom as usual was very skeptical if the operation will be successful. She was also afraid of the consequences. So we did not take my mom to the hospital. Me and my dad went to the hospital in a 2 wheeler. My surgery was at 4:15pm. I was supposed to report at 3pm. I was given some tablet. When asked, they told me that this tablet is to overcome anxiety. Surprised with the answer i sat on the sofa in the reception with my dad. I got to see the surgery performed on the person just before me. It was jus a 10 min operation (including the time u go n and come out). Next, it was my turn. I went in. The junior doctor washed my eyes with water. He took me(in a gown that will be given to inmates) into the surgery hall which was visible to all. The doctor put a eye clip to each eye so that it will nt blink. They also put an eye drop to numb the eye. No feeling/sensation after that. I could only percieve that the outermost retinal layer is cut open and rays are being introduced to flatten the eyeball(this is the solution for myopia). After everything, i thought that layer was nt put back. My dad who saw the operation told me that it was put back in place. After the operation, they gave me a fruit juice which i was awaiting for :P Then they checked the eye. It was all ok. I came out and saw. I was so glad that i could see everything and read signboards at distance even without my spectacles for the first time. I felt i had conquered everything on earth.
That day all through the route from hospi to my home, i was reading out to my dad. He was also happy for me..We reached home. Mom was very anxious abt the results of the surgery. I told her that am more than happy to see without specs. That day i was supposed to be in complete dark room till 24 hrsafter surgery with the dark glasses on. After coming home and sleeping for half an hour i could not open my eyes. Every half an hour my mother put the eye drops as instructed by the doc. Tears constantly flew from my eyes through out the night.My mom was scared to hell seeing my state. She was afraid whether i would be able to see at all in future. Luckily, next morning i was able to open and see and engage in regular activities like reading news paper etc as i had taken enough rest the prev day.
I was instructed to remain indoor for 24 hrs after which i could watch TV, use computer with black glasses on. Till seven days, i had to wear the black glasses whenever i went out. After Seven days i could take head bath. Till then i had to clean my face with wet cotton. All these petty caring has made my eye what it is today.

I thank my dad for having stood by me in my decision and making my life wonderful.