free falling...

Bunjee Jumping, Free falling while rappelling, white water rafting, parasailing some of the most fabulous activities that one can do.

Its a tremendous feeling. For those moments it is like you are transported into a completely different world. If its a bunjee jump, then the blood rushing to your head as the ground shoots up towards you, just does not give you any time to think. Sometimes in life you need to take decisions the same way. In my college experiences there have been numerous instances when we have had to think on the spot and take a call about an issue. To withstand that pressure and come out with the right choice is what separates the grain from the chaff.

Then of course there is parasailing where you are floating above the rest of the world beneath you and it is the most calm and peaceful feeling ever. It gives you time to introspect for someone who is not a first timer. For the first timer it is more of a thrill than an experience where you are taken up to a bird's eye view and can think about your life from that perspective.

White water rafting is all about navigating the rapids. As the word itself suggests it is time for quick assertive strokes that take you through the rocks that lie in your path and cause the foamy white water. It is also about team work unless of course you are in a kayak where it is all about maintaining a balance just as the way it is in life.

Free falling while rappelling is another sublime experience. It is only you, gravity and the safety harness. There are times when you would probably feel the ground rushing up at you and want to reach the ground rather than have the rope arrest your descent. Ensure that you aren't free falling in life. Or even if you are and you liken it to a rappelling free fall, then don't life sight of the fact that part of the activity is that you don't make hard impact with the ground or rock face, but finally get back to solid earth.

Each of these individual activities is a fun experience in themselves. The physical part of the sports are demanding and exacting but it is more about the mental battle to conquer the terrain and the nascent danger that makes them thrilling and an altogether powerful experience.

-- Kairav Parikh

Rise Up!!!!

My dream is to fly,
over the rainbow so high...

This is the latest song that has caught my fancy. Amamzing tune. Decent lyrics. Brilliant video. It caught my attention during the freshers' party. I'm sure I had heard the tune before but I didn't have a name for the song. I didn't pay too much attention to it then but later in the week I happened to be around a TV set that was playing the video and I was fascinated. It's a well conceptualised video with a storyline that more or less matches the lyrics. Very well choreographed as well.

Rise Up is certainly going to remain a favourite in my playlist for a long long time from now because of the sheer energy it brings in me. If you haven't heard it yet, now is the time.

-- Kairav Parikh

Vettel the next Schumi?

The Italian Grand Prix. Tifosi going wild. Ferrari did win the race even though Massa finished 6th and Kimi even lower down the order. Vettel in an STR Ferrari won the race from pole position. Youngest ever on pole, youngest ever to win a race and it showed in his baby-faced innocence. I can barely believe that the lad is a year younger than I am and already arrived on the global scene.

It was a hard fought race for Hamilton, Kimi, Fisichella - who gave hopes to lots of Indians after making it into Q2 in qualifying but it was not to be as a result of a collision with Coulthard, Massa - showing yet again that he can be the world champion title holder for Ferrari this year.

Hamilton now has a very slender lead going into the last 4 races, just one solitary point. Seems like this season will go down to the wire again. Next is the Singapore Grand Prix, the first ever night race. Will be quite a spectacle. Don't forget to catch up with the action in 2 weeks times. Meanwhile Hamilton's appeal will come to court and will decide drivers standing in the championship.

Delhi Blasts...

Some of my friends were in Delhi till earlier on Saturday and it is fortunate that they were back before the blasts that occured later the same evening. I would like to say a prayer for those not so fortunate.

It is tragic that people continue to perform such despicable acts of cowardice. It is at moments like these that one questions the very motive of existence.

It really seems like just going through the motions, thats what life has been reduced to. Each person has different aims and goals, be it to become rich, to be religious, to be famous, to be happy in life, is there a single correct goal that all people should have? Again I ask, what is the purpose of existence? Is it peaceful co-existence? What then, that the burgeoining population and limited resources are eventually going to lead to lack of peace due to coveting the same limited resources?

Difficult questions to answer. Do you have the answer?

sweet revenge...or bitter aftertaste...

Earlier today I was reading an article in the newspaper how the Ansals have surrendered themselves after their anticipatory bail was cancelled. As per the case they are being held responsible along with two managers for a fire that broke out in a cinema hall and claimed almost 50 lives.

The case and its proceedings are not what interests me and is not what this post is about. Apparently after years of waiting, the Ansals have been arrested. What is a psychological case study is the remark from the relative of one of the deceased in the tragedy that now the souls of the dead can rest in peace.

From a purely bystander standpoint, it fails comprehension that the Ansals going to jail is now responsible for the peaceful passage of the souls of the dead. This represents so much negative energy that such a situation causes.

Similarly, the untimely/unexpected death of a patient causes aggrieved relatives to take out the frustration on the doctors. There is a human element involved of pain, hurt, anger, frustration and rage at not being able to play God. Not having the power to give life. Most people could pick up a weapon and take the life of another person or through negligence do the equivalent, however no one has the power to give life.

There is a need to understand the psyche of the relatives of the victims and counsel them as the amount of negativity in their mind after numerous years would affect them adversely. The pain, anguish and hurt you feel at the loss of a loved one never goes away, but with time you learn to deal with it and cope with it, and doing so is not disrespectful to the memory of that person. As long as the person is in your heart and mind, it does not mean that you cannot live your life or you cannot smile or cannot be happy, in most cases the deceased person would want you to be as normal as possible.

Keep your peace of mind. Amen.

India Gate....

Its a pretty impressive monument when you look at it lit up at night. Never realised it earlier. Actually i did realise year back but sometimes memory needs to be refreshed to understand what things mean to you or how they seem to you.

Of course, how can one think of india Gate without thinking of Rang De basanti, the cult movie at the time of its release. The movie did well and challenged the tradition that the hero must live happily ever after.

Just a few stray thoughts. Enjoy the coming weekend.

Regards to all.

Cold coffee...

Paid a visit to the Orchid near the Domestic Airport today for work purposes. The meeting was fine. The cold coffee was great. We asked for it specifically without ice-cream, but its a 5-star man, how can they follow simple instructions? Bingo. there came two cold coffees with ice cream.

Conversations can happen over coffee. Sometime coffee places aren't as "Perk"y as we've expect them to be. Sometimes all that is shared over coffee is silence. Silence can speak a thousand words. But the silence can also be an uncomfortable one. The silence can be misconstrued as assent to a question. Or it can just be a dazed silence.

Sometimes life goes by at such a frentic (for the purists in you, since frentic isn't part of the oxford just yet, you can replace it with frantic or frenetic as you please, for the those who don't know what I'm talking about ignore the parentheses) pace that you just wish you could slow it down. Sometimes you would want to go back in time and relive moments or change certain things, but we still haven't managed time travel. As also in the Back to the Future series and recently Harry Potter, time travel and changes in past or future can have terrible consequence. Live life as you would be happy to look back at your choices 30-40 years down the line. Meanwhile, enjoy your coffee. Cold, hot, espresso, latte, black, no sugar, frothy...

And then there was none...

Ah well. Polly Esther's (yes the name was confirmed at the venue) was the venue. We had the fresher's party for the junior batch.

I don't know how many people agree with me but I certainly preferred the unlimited starters rather than the limited biryani that we had last year. Lol. Food. How can you keep that out of my top of mind.

Anyway it was fun to dance the night away. The last freshers party for me at the institute that has taught me so much. Can't help but feel "Nostalgic". Sorry you guys. You better organise a great "party" as well. The biggest of the year. Sigh. Don't know how I'm going to feel when its going to be time for our farewell party.

Been through school. Been through junior college. Been through grad school. But saying goodbye here is going to be toughest of them all.

Here's saluting the spirit of Bajaj. Just thinking about the anthem makes my eyes well up. Those who prefer to sit aloof while the anthem resounds will never know what it feels to be a part. I'm glad you can't and never will.

Ganpati Bappa Morya

Its that time of year again. For the God with the trunk to make his way into many homes.

Only to be immersed after various number of days depending on how long people keep him at their homes. I'm not against the idea or against restricting people against their beliefs. What does annoy me is that people don't understand the amount of damage the idols do to the eco-system when they are immersed as they are more often than not, not eco-friendly.

I am lucky enough to have a view of Siddhivinayak Mandir from my home, so my prayers to Lord Ganesha for a cleanerGanesh Chaturthi.