Bono - NAACP

A very nice speech especially the last few minutes. Very motivational

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A memorable journey

All of a sudden I found that I have nothing much to do at office. Hmm again... All my trip blog entries starts with the same line.. Nothing comes to my mind coz they do happen like that only. Ok coming back to this. I made plan to go on the 15th  night and got the ticket reserved too. But now seriously thought if I have to take that risk of traveling unreserved and a break journey with no clarity of number of breaks in it. It all looked like one big uncertainty with nothing certain but the destination my home ?

Decided to go on this adventure. So packed the stuff by afternoon and went to catch any bus that comes and waited midway. Came to know have direct Volvo to Nellore during the same time. So set the max limit of 45minutes for the bus to come and waited. Luckily the bus came and driver gave the ticket too. Was quite happy and it was the last seat.

So now at least something became certain that I have only a single break. As soon as I got in the there was dispute between the bus attender and a elder man regarding some seat problem and the attender was not responding properly and so I supported him and got it resolved and that’s just the beginning ?

From there it started to have multiple arguments with the driver, the hotel where he stopped for dinner at 3:30pm, and almost in each and every bus stop it stopped ? Driver had a very terrible day that day and the attender too. And most of them were not his mistakes. After half the journey we felt pity for the driver and started supporting him when he was correct which I lead the arguments again form the front even being in the last seat.

Cos of all this arguments the fellow passengers became very friendly discussing out this stuff and it was very funny making jokes of the situations. At the same time we got delayed too

At last reached home around 11pm by which every just got into beds as they don’t know I was coming. Yeah it was a surprise and I didn’t inform them that I started afternoon instead of evening.

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Changing World

In this ever changing world, do we need to change everything? I am sure there are few we can keep.

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Avalanche

As planned started off for Avalanche on the weekend. Met few of the other campers and got into the bus at Shanti Nagar bus stop. It went round and round the city and went to Mysore road bus stop again. It was raining heavily outside and no air inside the bus. After sometime the bus started and we were stopped at Bandipur forest as they have closed the entry from 2am-6 am. Slept in bus till they started allowing it at 5:30 am. Reached Ooty by 9:30 after a delay of 4 hours.

Went to Emerald from there. Most of the people had breakfast there. Started to walk to the camp site. It was a long tiring walk. The guides kept telling it was 30 mins away initially and after they changed it to 15 mins. It took almost 5 hours for the entire trek is nearly 10 kms; 3 kms on good road and after that on a mud trail. Up and down the hills. It was raining on and off.

Reached camp around 3:30 and had lunch there. It was a hot and yummy lunch, after all the trek it tasted awesome, It really is. Finished the lunch and relaxed for sometime, roaming around the camp site to explore it.

In the evening went out for kayaking. I did it for the first time and it was pretty good. Initially was trying to figure out which was it was going and after few minutes was able to control it. The lake and its surroundings are very beautiful. The clear waters in the lake are warm compared to the rain and the cold wind outside. I played with water while other took their turns with the kayak and swimming. I jumped into the kayak again when the instructor said there is a free kayak for the last trip. This time I went in much deeper and I was able to manage it pretty good. I think now I can do it alone.

Came back relaxed for the rest of the day. It was continuously drizzling all the time. Had very nice dinner along with chicken barbeque. Tried to sleep in the tent but it was very cold, so went back and slept in the dorm.

Woke up at usual time 6. Explored the places around while others are still getting out of their beds. Was feeling lazy as it was drizzling again that day too. The trip to the water fall started, didn’t want to go out in the rain but joined in end with the umbrella and the jacket. It was a short walk of less than 5 mins and there stands a beautiful waterfall making huge noise and running cold water.

Seeing that couldn’t resist so left the umbrella and jacket and went into water and enjoyed it a lot. The water is very cold and was looking too good. Had a nice waterfall bath – natural shower. Came back packed the stuff and finished the lunch and started to walk back to Emerald. It was good this time, didn’t feel much tired, though it took around 4.5 hrs for the trek down.

From Emerald took a truck to Ooty, was fun trying to maintain the balance. Reached Ooty, roamed around for some time, did some shopping and had dinner and reached bus stand.

Booked a AC bus so that it will be relaxing as needed to go to work the next day. This bus is Ambari, looked well, but all the way I can feel every ditch in the road, I doubt if this bus had shock absorbers.

Over all it was a very good trip. Enjoyed a lot of rain all along.

Few pics from the trip in my album koppole.in.

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A day well spent

A day well spent to visit ‘A talent well spent’. That’s what had happened on this unplanned trip which came into the schedule. SMART Hospital, Periyamali, Kamagiri was the destination. Prince, Michael and I started at 5:30am searching for petrol on Hosur Road. Got it when the fuel was about to end. Took a good amount of time to reach the place. The early morning drive was very pleasant passing through the jungle enjoying the beauties of the nature. The road became bad when we are almost near the place; it is so bad you think twice before you drive.

We entered the campus where the hospital is located and the area is big and they have few constructions there. All of them built with the local material available. Was surprised to see the infrastructure they have built at such a remote place where there is no proper road. And this is the effort Dr. Jeyachandran uncle which he started in 1983 and did each and everything of it on his own.

We met Dr. Jeyachandran uncle and Rohan just coming out after their morning chores. Came to know they had a long night trying to save one critical patient battling with life. They were very happy when they came to know that the patient has progressed remarkably well. Then uncle said how the patient had got rejected in the so called sophisticated hospitals of Bangalore and was vexed with life. She was ready to die rather than to live like that. I can read from uncle’s face how critical it was and the relief he have for the success of it and how big and achievement it is. This is just one of the many that happened there.

'A talent well spent' – this is what I mentioned in the beginning, and hope you have got whom I am referring to. In case you are not clear about it, it is about Dr. Jeyachandran. Just a down to earth person. There are many good things which I noticed in him, but one thing worth mentioning is about the use of his talent for the community.

We use our talents for our professions, to live our lives. Earn, do well and get settled using them. But how many of us and how many times think of giving back to the community using the very same talents with the same zeal and commitment and make a difference in the lives of the less privileged?

Also I noticed few young people travelled from the neighboring villages who volunteered to help during their camp.

Had nice food and roamed around for some time in the evening. Had snacks and started on ourjourney back.

While coming back have heard some elephant sounds, but the locals asked us not to stop as they are in good number and it will be a danger if they come. So continued the journey and wanted to make use of the time and hence started to write this blog entry.

"If I can ease one life in aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin

Unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain."

So let us make some difference in whatever capacity we can, with which ever talent that God has given and make our lives - A life well spent.

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