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Name: arvind
Country: India
Birthday: 6/29/1982
Gender: Male
Interests: Reading,Writing,Football,Trekking,Human Psychology and in short anything that needs to be thought about .
Expertise: I aint an expert in anything....tho i can honestly say i give everything my best shot.
Occupation: Computer related
Industry: Information Security
Message: message meEmail: email me
Member Since:
5/21/2004
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| This time it was a relatively sudden decision to go for a trek. Considering there were just 4 of us this time, we seriously debated the merits of the trek but in the end decided to do it out of sheer boredum of not doing anything different for so long. Bhaven was the main instigator this time and considering SG n JD were also keen we decided we'll do this even if we were just 3 or 4. Sam n NilC also pulled out due to some "family commitments" so it came down to Bhaven, Shalini, JD n me in the end. The trek spot was here (http://deepabhi.tripod.com/kothligad.html) ; rated as relatively simple. Anyway I doubt our unused bodies would have taken any more anyway ;).
I had to get out of bed at an unearthly (for me anyway ;) 5:15am to get to Thane and catch that Karjat local. I regretted not packing the night before itself coz I got late dumping first aid into my bag early in the morning and missed my train. Its an absolute pain on the harbour line if you're a trekker. All the trek spots bar 1 or 2 are off Kalyan and beyond and all the harbour trains through Sanpada are bad connectors. So every trek I have to go to Kurla and then go forward again. Oh well. It turned out that the stupid Karjat 7:07am got cancelled and replaced by an Ambernath local instead which I boarded and got off at Thane to meet up with the rest of the guys who were already there. No one had a clue about when the next Karjat train would be put up so we decided to ask at the ticket counter instead. The guy there wasn't exactly helpful. The transcript went:
AD: Karjat ka gaadi hai kya?
Counter: Mumble mumble..Khopoli ka hai..
AD: Kab aayega?
Counter: Time nahin malum
Well..that's very helpful thank you. Bah. Why would a ticket counter person not know the train timings? Anyway Bhaven managed to find out that there was a Khopoli train at 8:15. It being just 7:30 we decided to hop out and have a bit before boarding the train. Obviously trek breakfasts almost always are Vada Pavs, they're the only portable things anyway relatively speaking. It was around 8 by the time we got back to the station. The key topic of discussion here was how CST trains kept appearing and that we should board those instead and go to Alibag instead. Obviously the railway god overheard us and the next train that got put up was the elusive Khopoli train which we then hopped into.
Now for those not familiar with Mumbai railway topography Khopoli is way after Karjat on the railway line, which is way after Kalyan on the railway line which is way after..Oh you know Kalyan? Ok Ok I'll stop the railway seminar ;). Mumbai trains are obviously notoriously crowded , this one even more so. Due to the Karjat cancellation the number of trekkers waiting for the train was very high. This resulted in the train carrying more than its share of people, not for the first time I'm sure :D. Being thin is an advantage and a disadvantage in crowded trains. The advantage is that you can spot tiny pockets of space and somehow contort your body and squeeze in reasonably comfortably. If you want tips on how to do the same, please contact me offline ;). The disadvantage though is fat nuts with terrible judgement see a gap of about half a shoe by your side and plant their big muddy sandals right by you, squeeze their entire smelly body halfway and then demand that you make space by poking you and saying "Andar Jao". Goodie Goodie. What fun.
This time was no different from the above described scenario with multiple people believing that a crowded train is a mirage and that there's always space no matter how many people are already there. This time I counted 8 sitting and 7 standing (as far as I could twist my body anyway ). Now assuming that 1 bogey has 2/3 doors and four 2*4 seaters in each section; it'll mean that there are 15 people in each "seating section" which works out to 120 people in each section just between the seats. Consider the "stnading space" where innumerable people can magically coexist peacefully. Yesterday there were around 8 easily which equates to 16 in each section which makes it 136 people in 1 section which if measured would be around 180 sq feet. So there you have it - 136 people in 1 room. Multiply by 2 or 3 depending on how many doors to the bogey and it becomes 408 people just between the seats. Add to that all the space between the doors and the elasticity of people at the doors of the train where there's easily 75-100 people depending on size and you have an insane 800-900 people in a single coach. If its a 12 coach train its close to 10,000 people per train. Madness, really but as I said there are secrets if you come to me to learn ;). Bhaven continously rattled off terrible PJ's and both of us thought of multiple terrible business strategies based on the B Grade "medicine" advertisements stuck on the train ceilings to kill time. So coming back to the point by the time we reached Karjat after standing for 1:45hrs we were already partially zonked :D. A key figure in the train journey was an overexcitable kaka who seemed to think he was a Michael Jackson clone, the way he kept moving his hips in every direction and fiddling with his luggage under the seat. Despite multiple people trying to reason with him, the dude just refused to listen..and went on bumping and pushing people around. Well..atleast Shalini got a seat for what it was worth.
We got off at Karjat along with a huge bunch of trekkers at 10am sharp. Mass of humanity as usual, even in such a distant suburb way outside Mumbai. We took an auto rickshaw to a nearby bridge from where we could grab a Tum Tum to Ambivali. From Ambivali its a 2 hourish climb to Peth Gaon and another 2hours to Kothligad at the top. We picked up some fruits, biscuits and water at the bridge coz we weren't sure how much we'd get up there. The last time when we'd done Karnala@Panvel we'd left all the water with Sam and had problems at the top of the mountain so despite us carrying plenty of water this time, we weren't going to take chances. We tried sharing a tum tum but he wouldn't come for less than 350/- if we rented the whole thing out. Since we were already behind on time we decided to fork the cash out and go peacefully by renting the entire tum tum.
The tum tum journey itself was reasonably peaceful unless you count Shalini eating her 2nd giant Vada Pav and then yanking us all out on the way to pose in front of some brown fields and asking the tum tum guy to click a picture. For all you know he could have driven away with the Tum Tum with all our er precious belongings full of biscuits and water bottles :D. Here's a couple of pics inside the Tum Tum:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_sw30owzsBN4/SllylIc61zI/AAAAAAAABKM/NVXU09mjCF8/s512/100_1046.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_sw30owzsBN4/Sllyo5cZ9AI/AAAAAAAABKQ/uTRowSv1nKA/s512/100_1047.JPG
We hopped off at the base of Peth Gaon at around 10:45 and started trekking. We were pleasantly surprised to see that the road itself was a "pakka road" and not a dirt track as we'd thought it would be. Within 10 minutes itself Bhaven made some prophetic comment after which he got nicknamed "Baba Bhaven". Now obviously since that nickname stuck he was now expected us to lead the way and make all the road decisions. Turned out that his first decision itself was an utter disaster and we missed a turn and were happily walking down the wrong road. It took us a group of 4 very kind aunties to point us in the right direction. Baba Bhaven quite unjustifiably copped a lot of flak for leading us down the wrong path. Anyway finally we did get on to the right road and started walking:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_sw30owzsBN4/Slly1mtqCRI/AAAAAAAABKc/uo1Ni-Mz2Qc/s512/100_1050.JPG
The road up towards Peth is reasonably straightforward though. We managed to make it till the village without too much fuss. A key point to mention here was Shaini's giant bag. Well, that's normal you say? Er..not really. She'd packed 3 raincoats and 2 pairs of shoes along with multiple dry clothes. Talk of contingency planning :roll
The worst part is that the third raincoat is not for her but her beloved bag so it doesnt get what. I've heard of people treating their pets with extreme care but a raincoat for a bag is really pushing it ;). Not that any of the raincoats were any good at all..coz she got drenched anyway. Shalini also got a little tired and lagged behind a little...that happens specially if you have a desk job with little exercise apart from wrist downward..or is it forward? Leave you to decide. Like a true trekker however she laboured on with us and somehow managed to keep pace.
JD was the pace setter this time though , in stark contrast to his Karnala outing where he panted and puffed a lot. He strode far ahead of all 3 of us with great enthusiasm. Sadly though for him he'd brought an umbrella this time instead of a windsheeter. Yeah Yeah...I know you're supposed to be hand free for a trek and carry a windsheeter instead ..but he couldn't find one, so had brought something he could find quickly instead. All was well for quite a while. Suddenly Mother Nature decided to prove her might and ripped almost the entire cloth of JD's umbrella in one or two powerful gusts leaving it hanging pointlessly from the handle. I tried to rip the rest off and managed to slice my little finger into two in the process. Not really..it was just a little cut like you get while cutting veggies like Shalini mentioned. A cool pic of the remnants of JD's umbrella can be seen here though:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_sw30owzsBN4/Sllz4FhMSqI/AAAAAAAABLw/MRYEXcELXnA/s512/100_1070.JPG
We touched down at Peth village at around 1:00pm where an enthusiastic villager said he'd keep food ready for us when we got down from the mountain. Shalini who by now was totally fed up with her giant bag , deposited it at another little hut and we then set off on the path towards Kothligad.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_sw30owzsBN4/Sll0Xr1cO7I/AAAAAAAABMI/uTzs6D7ILnM/s512/100_1075.JPG
Somehow due to a lot of terrible singing by everyone except me ;) we lost our way again and had to retrace our paths again. Another trekking group though soon set us on our way. The trek up to the top of Kothligad was much much steeper though, there really isn't a path to follow as such after a while. Someone though had marked a lot of arrows on the rocks which made climbing easier , direction wise atleast. We clicked a few pictures along the way of the view:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_sw30owzsBN4/Sllzt0vVfMI/AAAAAAAABLg/sVXpAPdXTAo/s512/100_1066.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_sw30owzsBN4/Sll0o3DXD9I/AAAAAAAABMc/I-02iJNwnw8/s512/100_1080.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_sw30owzsBN4/Sll07jeV7pI/AAAAAAAABM0/SyxbE1HsTsM/s512/100_1086.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_sw30owzsBN4/Sll1GNMlxGI/AAAAAAAABNE/wt7AkMIyhpg/s512/100_1110.JPG
Finally after almost an hour and a half we reached the base of Kothligad fort. It even had inscriptions on it saying that it was an archealogical monument and that anyone who entered it would be cursed for life. Er not really..
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_sw30owzsBN4/Sll1Ddl0V4I/AAAAAAAABNA/8N6fXlOfuu4/s400/100_1089.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_sw30owzsBN4/SlqwWtT8vXI/AAAAAAAABTs/go92t-GPoiA/s512/100_1095.JPG
There was a very cool cave with huge steps to climb if you wanted to reach the top. Each step which was cut into the cave was huge..around 3 feet high. This then ended up in a big debate about why the hell anyone would want to screw their lives up conquering the fort. Further corny jokes about how a soldier would never get down once he had got up to the top also ensued. No seriously...each time you climbed a step your knee would bend so much that it'd be at a right angle to your lower leg. For those who did not appreciate that Geometry lesson...it just means that the steps were very steep.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_sw30owzsBN4/SlqsFCSDlaI/AAAAAAAABSU/GU2dkZNYbLQ/s512/100_1098.JPG
By the time we reached the top Shalini strained her thigh muscle causing me to regret not getting that Relispray along. Luckily Baba Bhaven was at hand yet again to save the day with a gym tip of a very simple calf stretching exercise which magically cured the pain instantly. With BB around who needs Relispray?? Anyway I was beat by this time but the nutty BB and the nuttier Shalini insisted we take a photo in the cave entrance near the top in a particular style only. Sheesh...
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_sw30owzsBN4/SlqsPcOxKmI/AAAAAAAABSc/rnGdREWNlTo/s400/100_1093.JPG
Right at the top we couldn't sit for too long cause the trip down a trek is always a little trickier than climbing upward due to the rain and the tendency to slip. Still we sat around there for about half an hour and talked a bit and ate tons of Good Day biscuits. Maharani Shalini was born here and instantly appeared in the first photograph on the top , quickly followed by the wise Baba Bhaven.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_sw30owzsBN4/SlqrnCcarTI/AAAAAAAABRw/Rk0sy6EWdxw/s400/100_1109.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_sw30owzsBN4/SlqrotZSzlI/AAAAAAAABR0/foYBiYMI-Nk/s512/100_1108.JPG
The trip down was definitely much quicker and was without incident unless you count all the disagreements that I had with BB over littering the hills or the local trains. Seriously I'm going to carry paper bags the bext time around and not use any plastic bags at all. The village man also earned some money while Maharani changed her attire and walking shoes yet again. We had a futile argument with another Tum Tum driver to reduce the price a little but to no avail. Reached Karjat where we had to wait an hour due to just missing a train..that time was utilized in gorging Vada Pavs. The train journey was utilized in settling our accounts. This was managed speedily thanks to the superior accounting skills of Baba Bhaven again. I'm sure everyone slept well that night. Good Fun. Hope to do another trek soon.
| | |
| Not much to be said really. Just that life moves on..all the time. Strangely at times -- despite you thinking it wont budge. All in all though..while that's all true..you can replace what a person does and do better maybe..you can't replace the person itself. Ever.
| | |
| We'd done Kalsubai on 19th August 2008. Too long ago to blog - so this just remains a placeholder that I'd done it once :)
| | |
| ---------------A post to ArsenalAmerica--------------------
I haven't been around here for a while now despite being tempted to get back a number of times. It was quite pointless really. I'm through with trying to make a point on a football board and make people see things the way I do. Its a futile exercise to put it lightly. In short I was fed up of the continuous "negative/realistic/<INSERT ADJECTIVE>" diatribe and the cloaked insults; quite contrary to some saying the "optimists" had chickened out and left. Anyway don't expect too many to agree , there will be those who call it a sob story too, so I'll come to the point which is to discuss our season and the next.
I'll start with our recent losses to ManU and Chelsea. I thought we played reasonably well and were a little unlucky too. Having said that Almunia almost single handedly kept us in the CL tie in the first leg where we were comprehensively ripped in the first half. So overall although we controlled posession well in the second half it was always going to be tight back home. I'm not sure if too many people were expecting us to thrash ManU. Sure we all would have hoped that happened but it was never going to. I mean , we had a 50-50 chance if we scored early and went in level at the break. The early slip from Gibbs though inside 10" meant that ..that was it. Really though I wouldn't blame him, he was exceptional until then. Ofcourse now people would point at AW and say.."What a fool..why didnt he buy a backup LB?". There is little point analyzing the game after that as it was all over before it started. I thought we played reasonably well though, without may I add creating too much. Which was a shame really coz United could have been picked apart..with that terrible negative formation with Rooney out wide. Didn't happen..they scored too early..Ronaldo had an absolute stunner up front and we meandered on without belief..wouldn't blame them though it'd have been nice to see a few more goals. So overall I thought yes..ManU deserved to win over two legs but the amount of overreaction after the loss which was a cup game in the end...while completely predictable was still too much. IMO anyway. The Chelsea game was more of the same with us dominating, getting hit by a sucker punch, a suicidal own goal early and a 4th goal on the counter. Again not the worst game we played, with plenty of movement but nothing to show for it. So what now??
The easiest thing is to slam the manager and curse him for not buying players. In reality bar those shattering losses to the top teams we havent done too badly. Obviously there is a gulf - 18 points off is not a joke and we're back to the season after Paddy left where LasagnaGate happened. This time it is different IMO though in a way. Players like Denilson, Song, Theo, Nasri, Clichy/Gibbs, even Cesc have all been big parts of this season and they will all recognize that they more than anyone else have to take that next decisive step forward. This is not like 05-06 where Titi, Bobby, Freddie, Bert , Sol all big winners at their/ a little past their peak were struggling to deal with the gap Viera left. This is a raw team with still relatively less experience who will be able to learn and implement (theoretically at least) what they have suffered. If we can have no key losses in the summer..Ade is more or less gone, Gallas maybe though that is not a given considering Sendy will mostly stay on there, then I see no reason why we cant step it up next season. We have had a mind numbing injury ridden season as well which hasn't helped one bit..that is not an excuse , its just fact. Sure if we'd had more experience we might..might have done better but that's how it goes, Arsene's never stocked the bench with experience. All said and done I can sum it up really in just 2 points:
a) AW is still the best man for the job. Its his team, no one else can get as much out of it as him unless you sell half the squad which will again set us back.
b) No one deserves the kind of shameful abuse that he and his team have had this season. No not even Silvestre , an old school ex ManU cunt (contradiction ;) )who many said was a good buy coz he is now here.
I also think the fans also need to take a look back and try and figure out the reason they support the club. As far as I can see it there are 3 or 4:
a) Grown up with the club in Highbury. Generations of support and will support them even if they go down to Div 3 and administration.
b) Glory hunters who switch club loyalties randomly based on who's top.
c) Loyal fans who love the club/football/manager etc but who find it tough to carry on without trophies. I think a large part of AA comes in here and hence so much of negativity this year.
d) People who love the club as much as those in c) , are frustrated that we don't win but keep hoping we'll do better. They voice criticism but it is mostly defensive and they'd always like to see people being given as many chances as possible. I think I'll drop into this bracket, a minority but still.
I'd like to explain why that's the case and will always be. No one here can deny that if AW's "master plan" worked out well and we won with kids - there'd be nothing sweeter. When you blow cash as Steve McMahon said on TV the other day you're expected to win and you'll get booted if you dont. Some may say that IS the way to go but I can't see why. Whenever AW has bought players he has spent for they have tended to be super super class; offensively at any rate(Lets not drone on about Francis Jeffers). So I see no reason to question his dealings in the market. At times it is frustrating though when he twists and turns statements in the media and doesn't buy..but that is how he is and has always been. Why do anyone expect him to change?
People cringe for more honesty outside. Pray tell me what shd he say? Adebayor sucks bigtime and I'll put him in the reserves. Eboue is a despicable diver and is here just coz he is a dressing room joker. Or lets say...Rosicky is a crock and Arsenal are skint? The only thing that'll happen when he yaps outside is that the egos of a million fans will be assuaged - for the time being. Then when the words dont yield the desired effect and we still lose the same moaners will be back saying.."It was better the way it was before". Booing is much the same - a big double edged sword. Stop buying your tickets, merchandise and everything you do to contribute to the club. Go and write to AFC that you're not renewing anything or you're disappointed. Or that AW needs to be sacked..or whatever. If enough people agree with you and the board thinks so as well , it might well happen. Why do it all in public for the whole of the world to see? Who's gonna get screwed if we overbuy and they flop? or if AW spouts rubbish and it backfires..rest assured its not us. Its the players, manager, board, club in ascending orders of impact.
What next season? Well this is all I think we need.
Adebayor out - Big CB in. (We're overloaded up front)
Diaby out - CM in. (Luxury player who isnt even as steady as Denilson despite having more talent)
Gallas and Silvestre can stay on for all I care as long as that new CB comes in coz both will go at the end of next season. If Toure does not step up this season and go back to 80% of the old Kolo we might need another next season; specially if Djourou doesnt fire either. p.s..Hasn't Senderos been ever present @ Milan after his injury???
I am no-one to tell anyone how to behave but I do think that a lot of the frustration while justified in a way ; is over the top. There'v been people on AA who hoped we'd lose against ManU and Chelsea just so AW's eyes might be opened. I mean..wtf? There is a way to disagree without abusing people left,right and center - even on a message board. And in the end - despite results not falling our way I think we have been quite determined and given it our all after that ManCity thumping. That's all I can and ever will ak for. The rest is no where and never will be in my or any of your control much as you'd like to delude yourself into thinking it is - And I don't mean that in a smug , know it all dictatorial sense.
Its something similar to what the whole of Mumbai felt after those terrible terrorist attacks - Petitions, Candle marches, angry bloggers, TV shows -- all die after a month or two. No one cares too much to try and make a difference(me included). Its the same with Arsenal. Its easy to blog and rant and curse left and right about terrible tactics and beat your own chests. If you really care that much please write to the board with complete justification, you'll be heard I'd hope.
Its all Roosevelt then once again before I return to hibernation:
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
| | |
| Back with another blog .. this time its to do with how I managed to get into all kinds of trouble at Gurgaon. To cut a long story short one of our clients had an incident at their place and wanted someone to come "urgently". Yeah ...right. They all say it..all the time. Keeping the sarcasm aside though I had to go there. After a whirlwind introduction to a project and with fragments of data wedged in various parts of my brain I waddled off to the airport groggily at an unearthly hour(I hate early flights..). Sadly I can never sleep on flights for too long which meant that would be two nights of 3 hrs sleep thanks to that silly FA Cup Arsenal match the previous day.
Anyway after waiting and cursing everyone for not sending my luggage out for over 20 minutes I finally got out and met Manoj. Anand was there too for some sales thingy. Very soon I got dumped at the client's premises with all my baggage. So after writing down the 1 million posessions I had on my gate pass I finally made it to the ITDepartment. Work went on at a frenzied pace and before you knew it, it was 11:00pm. The client very kindly agreed to drop me at my hotel and I was so exhausted that I didn't protest; I had no intention of hiking home.
The address was a very cool sounding Pacific Inn in Sector 15. This was apparently not very far at all, maybe a 20 minute drive at most so I was happy. And then the problems started..We kept driving and driving and er..driving with no destination in sight. Almost 35 minutes, 1 million instructions from 1 million fakes which included me asking in a beer shop where people did not look in good shape to put it kindly we finally U turned and ended up at a Galaxy Hotel in Sector 15. Well, if you believed Cleartrip , Pacific Inn was supposed to be just adjacent to Galaxy Hotel. So we look around and see no Pacific Inn. All there is is a swanky looking NRI hotel in Galaxy and a business complex called Pacific Square. 11:15pm. Then there's a discussion:
Client: Pacific Inn kahan hai?
Pacific Square Watchman: Pahhhccifeec kya?
Client: Pacific Inn
PSW: Yahaaan to ophheeeccc hain saare
Client: Hotel mein jaan hai
PSW: Woh ahi na Galaxy..bas wohi hai
Client: Sector 15 Part 2 yehi hai na?
PSW: Woh to yahi hai.
AD: Let me call Manoj (calling)
Manoj: Haan Arvind bolo...
AD: Blah Blah Blah..I'm lost...
Manoj: Aisa kaise ho sakta hai..payment kiya hai...let me call Yunus -- Cleartrip
AD: Cool...I'll check Galaxy
(AD and Client waddle over to Galaxy)
---
Galaxy Swany Lobby Dude: Yeah Sir...how caaen I help yah?
Client: Where's pacific Inn?
GSWD: (Looks disparagingly..he thought we need a room) I'll check sir.
GSWD(Calls luggage boy): Arre Kamlesh..yeh Pacific Inn kahan hai..uh huh uh huh
GSWD: Sorry Sir.. No Pacific Inn here.
Whoopy Dooo!!!
Now was the time I get to indulge in my wild fantasies of trampling on aliewn country with a laptop and meeting a load of thugs. Goody Goody. Well seriously though...it wasnt remotely funny. The client kindly suggested we go to his home but that would nt be ideal..really. So we went off hunting for another room..luckily luckily we found one quite soon. Wasn't cheap at 2500/- but hey.. I wanted to sleep..so well...screw the cash. After thanking the client profusely I checked in and decided to change. Then it struck... that nice bag...with all my clothes was at the client cloak room #-o . Bah. Double Bah. Curse. Whatever. Anyway I had to wear the same clothes the next day as well so .. er Lets not discuss how I managed that ;)..you dont want to hear it.
The next day I checked out and had my first experiences of what they call a Tum Tum here in Navi Mumbai. A big 12 seater - expandable to 18 depending on the size of the person. After running up and down searching for the right route an old uncle very kindly guided me by which I reached the client's place in 1 piece..somehow. Another day of hectic work ensued. In between Manoj called up and said that he had through a lot of hunting managed indeed to find out Pacific Inn. Pacific Inn is a guest house which does not believe in PSTN and advertising its number online. Screw that.. it does not believe in putting up a board either saying well..This is Pacific Inn. So really it was a minor coup that Manoj managed to actually find it. Anyway turned out that I was even more tired today and Client 1 had gone home. So Client 2 kindly volunteered. He too had trouble but after a lot of petrol wasting eventually did find the place. The dude at Pacific Inn was extremely apologetic .. oh well..blame it on Cleartrip from where we got a refund..thankfully. Anyway I was dead again...completely and fell asleep almost immediately.
The next day was reasonably uneventful with me TumTumming to work as passenger well..16?? They are not honest..really in the north of India. No gurantee you'll reach your place, the only gurantee is you will get fleeced 5 bucks for wherever he drops you....I miss Mumbai :( . Anyway after another day of fire fighting I decided I was now a cool dude who knew Gurgaon like the back of his hand. I had after all been there a whole 60 hours and travelled in 6 TumTums. Not for the first time that was a disaster as well. So here goes:
TumTum1: Drops me at a place called Kataria Chowk.
Then I have to go to Ghoda Chowk..thats called that because theres a big horse statue there for some historical reason. TumTum's do not appear so yours truly drags his way walking at 9:30pm to Ghoda Chowk. Its pitch dark and numerous trucks whiz by me. If I died there they wouldnt find my body till it was morning..for sure :D. Well anyway..I then reach Ghoda Chowk. TumTum2 now volunteers to take me to Sector 15..or does he?? Well he'd take me somewhere for sure..so after 5 minutes..
TumDriver: Haan utro sab log
AD: (Looking around nervously) Yeh sector 15 hai???
TumDriver: (Mumble Mumble..chew paan)
AD: Oh Bhai..Sector 15 bola tha..yeh kahaan chod diya???
TD: Arre...Ghar pe chodega kya???
AD: To pehle bolne ko kya hua...haan...jaana kaisa hai batao...
TD: Mumble Mumble...
AD: &^%$&^$%&$# (Under breath) If it'd been vocal..well I'm not exactly the biggest guy around to defend myself ;)
Cycle Rickshaw:(Moving in like a hawk for its prey): Kahaan jaana hai baitho..
AD: Sector 15 pata hai?
CR: Nahin par pooch lenge..
AD: (Screw You) I will walk but not get into another rick which has no clue where its going.
AD:(Starts walking at 9:45 prolly)
AD: Sector 15 kahaan hai
Passerby/Shop: Aage
AD: Sector 15 kahaan hai
Passerby/Shop: Aage
AD: Sector 15 kahaan hai
Passerby/Shop: Aage
AD: Sector 15 kahaan hai
Passerby/Shop: Aage
(Repeat for 2 kilometres)
Bah.Bah.Bah. I hate Gurgaon right now. I'm thinking what would happen if someone who didnt know Hindi came here. Anyway..finally I stop sick of walking and ask again.
AD: Sector 15 kahaan hai
Ciggy smoking Passerby: Woh to 2 kilometer andar hai.
A Frustrated AD: Haennnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!
Ciggy smoking Passerby: Rickshaw pakad lo..lo woh aa gaya.
AD: Looks eagerly...and finds nothing but cycles coming. Then it clicks...that rickshaws here = Cycle Rickshaws. Auto = TumTum . Terminology bah..The "rickshaw" drops me at the hotel though where I moan to Pacific Inn a lot and he sympathising with me. Sigh.
Sunday passes off uneventfully...unless you count me borrowing toothpaste from the hotel waiter as an event :D(Did that for 3 days BTW). Monday - I Have to close the project onsite part. Now I definitely know my way around..I even know Chowk names. Surely ..surely nothing can go wrong. Wrong again. Guess how I travel...Its the TumTummy Tum again. This time I get dumped at Ifco chowk. TumTum2 claims to be going to the client place direct..Gate ke bahar. Er ok...After dropping everyone he asks..
"Aapko kahaan jaana hai".
AD: <CLient>
"woh to gaya peeche..bataya kyun nahin.." U turn..
"Yahan utro ..Highway cross karo. Gate aayega"
AD: Ok.
Does not look familiar. Turns out there are 4 gates and Cycle Rickshaw 1 has dumped me at Gate 4 .. I want to go to Gate 1. Goody Goody. Turns out theres no internal connectivity between Gate 1 and 4. So I come out again..and walk..and walk till I meet Cycle Rickshaw 2. He offers kindly to take me..
Cycle Rickshaw2: Rs.40.
Hardened AD: 20.
Cycle Rickshaw2: Nahin saab 40.
Hardened AD: 20..Chlna hai ki nahin?
Cycle Rickshaw2: 30 de do.
Hardened AD:25..last hai?
Cycle Rickshaw2: ok.chalo...
25 minutes on a cycle rickshaw. Its hard work for the guy..really. Over all those terrible roads spoilt by 20 ton trucks. But...he completes the job and drops me at Gate 1.
AD: (Very gratefully Thaks CR2 profusely for not screwing him over). Oh well..the rest was fine I got back in a cab to the airport the next day and caught the Indigo 6E-181 home the next day.Dead Dead tired today..oh well...now I know what not to do when I go North...or do I?? Probably not. Until the next screw up..Adios... :)
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