Thank You 2018

This year instead of writing it as Good bye, I decided to write it Thank You 2018. This year has been really good for me in many ways. I have no words but to say Thank You. Like every year I am writing this blog to thank God and many of my friends for making this year a great year. I hope 2018 had been good for you just as it had been good for me. Hope every year brings new learnings and add beautiful experience to all of our lives.

I started this year with my best timing in full marathon(42 km) @ 4 hrs and 12 mins. This was just my 6th full marathon and given the amount of practise I had last year, this was the best timing I could have imagined. 

I March I travelled to Europe for 2 weeks and travelled across 5 countries. This was entirely a different experience. Scenic beauty of  Austria, Czech, Slovakia was something that will remain on my mind forever. 

Health wise, this year had been really good. I have been able to go to gym regularly and go for occasional run. I am also thankful to God that health of my parents also had been good this year. 

I travelled to Leh again this year. This time not for running though. Last year Leh trip was so awesome that I had to travelled again.

This year will have a lasting impact on me for one more reason. I met the girl of my life. The girl I am madly in love with. The girl with whom I want to spent rest of my life with. 

I ended this year with my last trip of the year to Singapore. 

Euro Diaries

Warsaw Chopin Airport, Poland

Flight Attendant: Sir, you can't travel to India.

Me: what are you saying?

Flight Attendant: You don't have Visa to travel to London

Me: What are you saying? I am not travelling to London. It's just that my flight is flying to Mumbai via London. 

Flight Attendant: If your flight is flying via London that means you are at London.

Me: Sir, I applied for visa with this air ticket. If I am not allowed, my visa would have got rejected there itself. Please figure out something.

Flight Attendant: Sorry Sir, we can't do anything.

I wanted to take this trip for a very long time. However, I had been postponing my long due Euro trip for last two years. This time I just closed my eyes and booked the tickets. My point of entry was Vienna and Warsaw, Poland was my exit.

First thing you will notice when you travel to Eastern Europe is its cleanliness. Second thing you notice is less crowd. Atleast in all places I traveled. Coming from Mumbai, where you will find crowd almost everywhere every time. In Eastern Europe, no matter how beautiful palaces it may be, you will find very limited crowd. 

I had my first challenge with language barrier when I set my foot at Vienna, where most people could not speak English. I had a hard time locating my hostel. My sim was not working and had no internet. I had to ask local people to help me locate my hostel. I roamed around everywhere only to come back to where I started. Such problem you can face when you travel to eastern part of Europe. Best thing download the map on your mobile or tablet and find on your own. I use map.me app, this works even when you don't have internet on your phone. 

Innsbruck is part of Austria that touches the beautiful Alps. This place is so beautiful that you will forget all the tiredness of walking 40 km in a day or lack of sleep due to jetlag/ travelling. You will enjoy Europe more when you walk around the city. Believe me, most European cities are small and you can cover all the places by just walking. Don't waste your money on taxis here. Instead use local transport (buses, tram or metro).

From Innsbruck I traveled to Salzburg. First thing that comes to your mind when you hear this city name is movie "Sound of Music". Another part of Austria that touches the mighty Alps. If you have watched the movie "Sound of Music", you must have noticed the beautiful architecture and the scenic beauty of the place. I hired a cycle and traveled all across Salzburg. The beauty of the place just remains with you forever. If anyone wants to travel to this part of Europe, I would suggest, just hire a cycle and get lost. 

I had to go to Brno, Czech Republic. This city was not in my itinerary. I had to go there to meet my sister Bonny and her husband (who works there). Brno is another quiet and beautiful city that has the mix of both city and village life. I could stay there only for a day. The next day, I had bus to catch to Warsaw from Prague.

When I was in Class 9 and 10 I read a lot about World War II. Warsaw was one of the cities that was very badly affected by this war. When you visit any of the castle at Warsaw, you can get the feel of how these castle which was used to shelter war affected people were targeted by the Germans and thousands of Polish were bombed during the war.

I traveled 5 countries (Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland) and 8 places(Vienna, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Munich, Bratislava, Prague, Brno, Warsaw) during this trip. It was an amazing experience. Of course I had some hiccups as well including my credit card getting blocked at the start of my trip and running out of Euros in between the trip.

Meanwhile in some club at Bratislava, Slovakia 12:00 AM
(Background Music at max volume: So far away)

Me: Do you like working here?

Girl at the bar: I like sometimes..

Me: Sometimes....
Girl at the bar: (After some pause) I work two jobs,  day time, I work somewhere else
Me: Are you from here?

Girl at the bar: No (she named some place 300 km away from Bratislava which I don't remember) Why are you here?

Me: I am on holidays, I am travelling across Europe

Girl at the bar: ok

Few seconds later, she got up, walked straight past me and climbed up the stage. She danced round the pole. Then, she dropped her bra.....

Some facts:
In Europe:
WC stands for Toilet
Danke means Thank you in German
Czech Republic Currency is koruna
Poland Currency is Zloty
Austria, Germany and Slovakia use Euro
Austrian speaks German

Messy

When Rafael Nadal entered men’s tennis, with big biceps and high top spin forehand, his game looked too boring for tennis. In the dominating era of Federer, whose forehand and backhand look classy and effortless, Nadal was a complete contrast. Federer likes to keep rally short and close points early , Nadal on the other hand would keep on rallying and force opponent to make mistake. If Federer's game was neat and classy, Nadal's game was messy. In short, Nadal’s game was a disruption to tennis world.

Being messy is not bad. Some of the world’s best invention has come to light by exploring this path. One can see messiness in all discipline of life. Be it sports, movies, academia, science or business. Some of the successful and highly paid football coaches exist today because they had the patience to try out different strategies and filter out strategies that did not fit to a team. None of these coaches knew that exactly this and this only strategy is best fit to the team. It all starts with the mess where you have amalgam of ideas and you are not sure which will work and which won’t. 

When I first started to play tennis, all my shots were flying outside the court. On TV, when Federer or Sampras plays, the game looks so easy. Hitting a six with a tennis racket seems far easier than placing the ball within the court. My game was a mess. Then with time, as I start to learn the game, my frequency of dropping the ball inside the court increased. Life starts with a mess, and within this mess, one has to figure out which which one works for them which one does not. 

I still remember when our chemistry teacher told us how benzene ring was discovered. The scientist was still figuring out what could be the possible structure of benzene. He had been spending months and months however he could not find any structure that would fit the chemical formula. Then one day when he was sitting on this chair, he saw a dream where a snake was trying to catch her own tail and eureka he discover the famous benzene ring. Such discovery is no new thing in the field of science. Science and discovery is all about experiments, where you make tons and tons of experiments and hope to get lucky with one. Ofcouse these experiments are not random experiments, these are good experiments. Random experiments have no objective, good experiments are done with right intentions and have objective. 

How many times on seeing a successful CEO, we wonder what a life he/she has? However, his path to that success might have not been a clean one. He might have had lot of dilemma on whether the path he had chosen is correct one or not, he might had lot of doubts, he might have had lot of failures. To find that right path he might have been in wrong roads many times. Many times, his friends might have told him to not take that path and had told him “you life is mess man, stop what you are doing”. What his friends did not know is that every time, he had chosen wrong path, he came closer to correct path, every time he had doubts, he came more close to clarity, every time he failed, he learned what to do. What many of us don't realize is that he is exploring his creative potential by embracing mess. 

Just yesterday

It been almost 8 years since I saw her last time. Lot had change since. I have become 8 years older, I have more hair on my face then on my head now, cryptocurrency is the new currency traded today, oil price have become Rs 81. Perhaps my feeling for her is also no longer the same. 

Today I am returning back to Mumbai from Kokrajhar. I was at home for 2 and half days to see my parents and relatives. Generally whenever I come home, I stay for atleast a week time. However this time I could not manage more time as back in office there are people chasing me to make my life hell. More importantly I am saving my holidays for my Euro trip in May and Marathon at Leh, Ladakh in Sept. In this 2 and half days at home, I met all my cousins staying at Kokrajhar and few friends whoever could accommodate their time for me. I had to catch flight at 5:00 PM today and my house is 220 km from airport. Since I already had my boarding pass with me, I had asked the taxi driver to pick me up at 11:30 AM. I left home at 11:40 AM for airport after saying good bye to mom and dad. Along the way I had a long conversation with the driver. Since I had been away from my home for the last 7 years, there are lot of stuffs to catch up upon. These are the guys who had travelled in far corners of the state to know the ground reality of the issues our states are facing. We talked about lot of things, he told me about his family, his children, about immigration issues we are facing, other political issues. I told him about life at Mumbai, how life goes on 24 hours in this city. 

I reached Guwahati airport at around 3:30 PM. There was a long queue at security checkin. That's the reason why I always feel safer reaching early at smaller airport. You never know when you have to stand in such queue. I stood in queue for around 20 to 25 mins to get my check-in done. Once I was done with security checkin, I still had some time to grab a coffee and relax. I went to a coffee counter, grab a black coffee and sat down waiting for my boarding announcement. I had tried to gave up coffee some months ago. However after 3 months of soberness from coffee, I started consuming it again. 

After the boarding gate announcement, I went to the gate and saw people standing in queue. So as usual, instead of standing in a queue, I decided to walk around the airport and let the queue die down. As I was walking around I saw fair girl just passing by me. In no time, a name hit my brain and without even seeing her face clearly, I called up the name. She stopped the moment I called her name and looked towards me. She seemed a bit confused. Perhaps, she might had wondered who is this dark guy with a beard. Before she could guess, I told her my name and gave her my introduction. I could sensed that she could recollect.

It been almost 8 years since I saw her last time. Lot had changed since. I have become 8 years older, I have more hair on my face then on my head now, cryptocurrency is the new currency traded today , oil price have become Rs 81. Perhaps my feeling for her is also no longer the same. 

We talked about our whereabouts and what we are currently doing to meet our expenses and our travelling needs. She told me what brought her here for a month and is currently flying back to her so called home for the last 5 years. We could talked for about 10 mins and then I had to say good bye to catch my flight. 

She still looks as beautiful as she was 8 years back. Perhaps time has only made her look better. Back then I could still remember the time when I used to call her at 1:00 AM in the morning to talk about my love for living in the mountains and being with the environment. The days when I bunked evening classes just to walk alongside her in the beautiful campus and just discuss random stuffs. The memory of saying bye to her for the last time still feels like yesterday.

Good Bye 2017

Last year I missed publishing my good bye article highlighting events and learning from the past year. This year I don't want to repeat it. I don’t want to miss it because it had been an eventfull year. Like any other year, lots of learning and memories to be stored and kept. 

In January, as I was preparing for Standard chartered Mumbai marathon and since I wanted to train like a professional athlete, I decided to stay away from stuffs that would hinder my training like fast foods, alcohol, sugar, tea etc.  Though I could not keep away coffee from my life, however I had been successful in keeping away tea and sugar. Another thing I was successful at was throwing away alcohol of my life. Sober since last February. 

I completed my 2nd full marathon in 4hrs 20 mins at Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. Though my target was to complete within 4 hours, however I ran out of fuel in the last few kms and had to slow down. In Feb, I decided to join gym and add strength training in my routine. Believe me, it was one of best decision I made this year. Joining gym and doing exercise in a proper way helped me realize the importance of having good food and respecting the body this soul resides. Our body is the greatest gift all mighty has provided to this species. One has to respect it by providing good food and exercising regularly. Its one thing that connects our soul to our mind. 

In April, I went home to attend my cousin’s marriage. 1st marriage from my mother’s family. I enjoy attending such family marriages as it brings together all our family members from different sections of the country in one place. Else there is no way one can meet all of them in one place.

In Aug end, my parents came to Mumbai. Its always a very proud moment for any son/daughter to bring their parents to your new home. I live in a small apartment with a semi living room, bed room and kitchen that hardly exists. I have been living alone for the last 2 years. Last time my parents came I was sharing house with a friend. Since he moved to Pune, I had been staying alone. Since I moved to Mumbai some 7 years back for studies and then for job, I get once or twice in a year to meet my parents. Whenever I get  a chance I try to make most of it. Your parents are the greatest gift, whenever I get time I try to make most of it.

In 1st week of Sept, I travel to Leh, Ladakh to run my 3rd full marathon in one of the most challenging environment- 11K feet above level. I came a week early so I had ample time to accamaltize and visit various places close by Ladakh. It was not the best timing I had, however considering the challenges the environment provided and the preparation I had, it was the best I could do. [More about my marathon experience can be read in my older post]

One of the most important things I learned in life over the years is to never take things for granted. One cannot take his job, health, friendship and relationship for granted. One needs to constantly work over them to maintain it. It is also important that you don’t allow others to take you for granted too. If someone does take you for granted, its time that you take action over it. 

Will like to close this year with a beautiful quote I found today in Instagram:

My experience of running Ladakh Marathon

It all started in April when I saw an notification in FB for Ladakh Marathon. I had just joined gym then and started taking strength training seriously. I had been training seriously for next year’s Mumbai marathon. I ping Rahul if he would be interested in running at Leh, Ladakh half marathon. At that time, I thought running full will be too much for my body to take at such an attitude. Rahul replied me back that he will not travel all away to Leh just for half marathon. It had to be either full or 72 km Khardung-la Challenge. The very next day I registered for Ladakh Full Marathon. Rahul was still deciding weather to go or not (Rahul would later finished Hyderabad FM at mind blowing timing of 3hrs 37 mins). A week later I booked my flights for Leh so as to ensure that I had no choice but to go to Leh. I had never been to Leh or any other part of J & K earlier. And I must say this was the best decision I had done. 

My preparation for the marathon started very good. However sustaining it was a challenge. My running numbers reduced with the monsoons and increasing office work load. Though I ensured that my strength training was never sacrificed. I ensured that I visit the gym at least 5 days a week. My running numbers reduced from +200 K/month  distance in Apr, May to close to 100 K/month in June, July. Aug was worst with just around 50kms, blame it on monsoons or my laziness. To be honest, this was not the ideal preparation for Leh Marathon. I was not sure till the race day if I could complete entire 42km. I thought my heart would just stop at 32K. 

I reached Leh a week ahead of the race day. For any runner planning to run at Leh, you need to be here at least a week earlier to get acclimatised. It stands at 11,500 ft above sea level, oxygen levels are low here. On the 1st day, one can easily get headache or breathing problem. So it's important to take proper rest on the 1st day of arrival. Reaching a week early, one gets lot of time to visit the local monasteries and nearby valleys like Nubra, Pangong lake or Khardungla and ample time to practise in the mornings. Believe me these places are mind blowing. 

The first time I ran here on one of the mornings, I was breathless in less than a kilometre. I learned after running here that you need to start slow especially if you are not a localite or some professional runner. Up incline walk, don’t run. Down decline or plan road, run. You need to ensure that you never run out of breathe in the entire race. So my strategy for the marathon was simple, stop at most of the water station for enerzel, water or some banana. I ended up stopping at all the water stations(there were 14 of those for 42k) and finishing it at 5 hrs 42 mins. 

Leh trip was an amazing journey for me. It made me appreciate nature even more. Since my return from Leh, I have been telling my friends, it is a beautiful place and one must visit this place once in his/her lifetime.  If you haven’t visited this place yet, don’t forget to add this on your list. 

Leh Trip: Part 1

Reached Leh on Sunday, 3rd of Sept. The night before I had Diamox. Diamox is a tablet that helps travellers to get acamatized faster in a high altitude places like Leh, Ladakh. As I got down from the airplane, I was just amazed by the beauty of this place. the dry hills with ice on top is a view to be seen. 

1st was I was feeling fine. The hotel people advised me just to take rest and don’t do any activity, just have food and sleep. So I listened. After taking rest for a while I got bored and decided to go for a walk to the market. After I came back, had lunch and went to sleep. After an hour of sleep, I decided to out for walk again as I was getting bored sitting inside the hotel.  I went to the market again and walked around the nearby areas. Bought couple of sports items and came back to the market. As i entered the market again, a sudden rush from nature start calling me. I needed to pee desperately. I started to find places where I could pee. I asked people where I could do so, people had no answers or I could not locate the place. Then I started to find corner areas with no people however could not locate. So i decided to enter a coffee shop. As i entered I could find no bathrooms. I ordered coffee and drank it and asked the waitress for washroom. She gave me the key to washroom. In Leh, most of the restaurants, rest rooms are not attached to the restaurant. The restrooms here remain locked so that no strangers can enter and use it. So you need to ask for a key. Point to be noted. 

In between as I drank the coffee, I could sense heaviness in my head. The coffee was very strong and the hotel guys had earlier strictly asked me not to have coffee on the 1st day. I decided to head back to the hotel. As I reached the hotel, headache was getting worse. I had my dinner at hotel and took one Diamox and hit the bed.