Har Ki Dun: The Indiahikes Experience

Old loves die hard. For the last three years I was caught up with professional life, postgraduation, the disadvantages of being flung to the far south in Tamil Nadu hinterland and what not. But I always remembered my last tryst with the Himalayas way back in 2009; of pristine blue skies, fields of snow, the winter chill, the clean air, majestic alpine trees and all the beauty that it possessed. The yearning to be there once again was further kindled by the approaching culmination of my postgraduate course. After looking at many options, trekking agencies, the GMVN and the KMVN, I decided to put my faith in Indiahikes. Now, I had been reading a lot on the IH website and the information it contains for a trekker is enormous. Though there would be no better way to trek with people you already know but the prospect of trekking with strangers was novel and also I had hoped a very fulfilling experience. And so it was. Thus me and Antariksh, batchmate and fellow trekker from school decided to do the Har ki Dun trek in December. I intended to do it in the 3rd week of December as I anticipated with my past experience with the Dodital trek in winter at the same time that a single bout of snowfall almost always occurs in mid December leaving the landscape more scenic than ever. Now, one can't predict the weather but in this case I was right. After having booked the trek and enrolling myself as the team doctor and booking all the tickets I could hardly wait for the adventure to begin. I was amazed at the way IH took care of everything. From regular mails, itineraries, things we would need and weather updates; IH did not miss anything. Initially I ridiculed the idea of such a thorough checklist of things. Frankly speaking I have trekked so casually earlier. So this list meant buying a lot of things. For starters, trekking shoes! I had always trekked with sports shoes but with IH so heavily insisting on trekking shoes I invested in Forclaz 100. The importance of them I learnt painfully later in the trek. Mid December arrived with the western disturbance and the anticipated news of snow fall in the higher reaches of the Himalayas. There was no way of knowing whether HKD got it too but thanks to one of the IH trek leaders I came to know. Being the team doctor also meant brushing up my first aid skills and knowledge about mountain sickness! Finally on 18th December I left for New Delhi where I reached 5 hours late thanks to heavy fog. Antariksh had created a WhatsApp group for our batch of HKD trekkers and we left for Dehradun on 19th. I think it is better to reach Dehradun the evening before departure to Sankri as it gives some rest to the body. Reaching early morning by the Nanda Devi express or the bus is better if one has a really tight schedule but it is tiring. Thanks to the GOSF sale we got a heavy discount for the hotel we stayed in for the night. The scheduled departure from Dehradun was at 6.30am. After a hot bath we reached the railway station where Saranbir, our trek leader was waiting for us and the Kedarkantha team. As expected Nanda Devi express could only reach by 8.30am and by the time we pushed off for Sankri it was already 9.45am. Packed into Mahindra Boleros and Maxxs we left for Sankri via Mussoorie. After a long pitstop at Kempty Falls for Aloo Paratha we were travelling again. It was in Mussoorie we got our first views of the snow clad peaks. One can distinctly identify the Chaukhamba massif on the extreme right. The road then goes via Damta to Puraula. The condition of the road was good in most parts except for few short stretches. Puraula was our halt for lunch where to my surprise was a really good restaurant called Hotel Classic. Puraula is also the last place where most mobile networks work. From Puraula we headed to Mori, Netwar and then entered the Gobind Pashu National Park. By the time we reached the forest checkpost it was dark and the last few kilometers to Sankri were in darkness. One has to pay a small entrance fee at the checkpost which IH had taken care of. The road after the checkpost is mostly non metalled. We reached Sankri at 6pm. The Kedarkantha team was accommodated at Hotel Swargarohini while we set our bags at the GMVN lodge. Hot tea, Pakodas and a briefing by Saranbir awaited us. After being introduced to our team including Assistant trek leader Anil and a round of introductions from all the trekkers in the batch which included 20 guys and 3 girls, Saranbir gave us an introduction to Indiahikes, the green trails initiative and certain trekking basics. For sure, some of the first timers were freaked out! So herewith I will also introduce all the trekkers. Apart from me and Antariksh, the others who had done treks before were Shantanu, Rahul Agrawal, Aditya, Kartik, Yatharth and Vivek. Especially freaked out were Divya (our showstopper of the trek) and the Under-19 (U-19) group (Siddhesh, Jay, Dhruv and Shubham). The rest included Rahul Matmari, Sirish, Chirag, Ashish Gupta and Singla (Bhatinda as he would be known!), Vedant (Yatharth's cousin), Sneha and Anuja (the Tulsyan sisters :P), Salvin and Ashok Sir (the funny bone!). Just after Saranbir's frightening briefing, me being the doc was already being consulted for advice. Ashish Gupta ji had a fever thanks to the recent Tetanus shot, some had headches, others were just freaked out by the cold. Apart from Ashish's fever all the rest were panic responses for Saranbir's deadly briefing!! I think this briefing might just be chilled out a bit in the future. After a very filling dinner in our tiffins and cups everyone retired one last time to the warmth of Razais and the comforts of a bed before the 5 day bedless, Razai-less trek! We woke up on the 21st to a cloudy and cold morning. The surrounding hills were sprinkled with snow. Post morning tea, Saranbir demonstrated us the packing of a rucksack. This reinforced some old memories from the adventure course at Nehru Institute of Mountaineering the teachings of which were now lost in the sands of time. We bid goodbye and good luck to the Kedarkantha team and left by our vehicles for Taluka which was 16km from Sankri. The road was covered with a layer of snow at several places. Sankri to Taluka took an hour and the sky opened up a little to reveal some beautiful cloud patterns against the azure blue. At Taluka, those who had to offload their rucksacks did so and we set off finally. The team was supposed to go with the guide in front, the assistant leader in the middle and Saranbir and Brij Mohan being the sweepers at the tail. Our guide initially was Phoolak Singh who was replaced shortly ahead by Irabeer (a relatively short tempered but good hearted man). The trail descended a bit steeply from Taluka covered with slush due to the melted snow. Our first stop was about 2 kms ahead of Taluka on a completely flat piece of sun exposed ground. Till this point the trail was mostly even with little if any climbs. At this point I would also mention about the green trails initiative by IH. All of us carried an Eco-bag strapped to our waists. The idea was to pick up any plastic on the trail and collecting it in the Eco-bag to be disposed at the end of the trek at Sankri being later segregated and disposed at Dehradun. This initiative by IH is really appreciable as it inculcates a sense of responsibility for the environment as much as it does for trekking per se. Moving further from this pitstop we went under cloudy skies following the Har ki Dun Nala to another halt at a snow covered place. It was here I clicked the best picture of my trek. The day was not particularly good for photography because of the poor light due to cloudy skies again. Add to that the limitations of a 7 megapixel point and shoot camera. But as I looked above from this place we halted, I saw the cloudy sky ensnared by the dry leafless branches of several trees posing as a spidery silhouette. Later during the descent on the 5th day I captured the same picture but with a perfectly clear sky but it did not match the awesomeness of the first picture. Har Ki Dun being one of the most popular treks in Uttarakhand carries the burden of having extremely littered trails. This is more evident at places of lower altitude and those where people halt usually. So as I clicked this picture I also noticed the many plastic wrappers which littered the ground. It was perfect irony. On one hand was the most beautiful sky above and on the other an equally horrible ground below. We cleared the area of as much litter as we could. By this time the fitness level of the team was evident. No longer were we trekking as a group. Like in a school class there were front trekkers, the middlers and the TAIL blazers! This is not to glorify or point out someone but I mention this just to highlight the fact that this division was so significant in so many ways. It was because of this division a lot of humor, friendship, photography, cameraderie and companionship developed. We had our packed lunch at a point about 7kms from Taluka. There is a certain joy in having ice cold lunch too! Further we passed the Gangad village nestled in a valley facing sunlight. From Gangad the trail was again even and finally a descent to Chilludgarh (12kms from Taluka) which was to be our first campsite. Up until Gangar the trail was laced with equal ups and downs but for three particularly steep climbs. Chilludgarh is also nestled in a valley which barely receives sunlight and thus was covered in snow. It is named so after the Chillud trees found there. Before we descended into Chilludgarh we could distantly see the peaks surrounding Har ki Dun. We reached Chilludgarh after about 7 hours of trekking at just about sunset. Not wanting to miss the sunset light play with the HKD peaks, myself, Kartik and Vivek climbed up the hillock abutting the campsite and we were met with an eye popping sunset play at work with the peaks. While the rest were resting below as the tents were being pitched, the three of us were clicking pictures. By the time we came back the tents were pitched and tea was ready. Everyone was tired that day being the first day of the trek. Saranbir further disappointed us regarding the bonfire. Bonfire was not permitted as the trek lies in a national park. This meant that after soup, dinner and hot bournvita everyone was ready to tuck into their sleeping bags. The cold tolerance level was also evident. While some people were decked up with 6 layers already some were only at three or four. One should also not follow a blind number but rather weigh their tolerance to cold. We again rose to another cloudy sky the next day. It was still dark and the early risers were already knocking on the toilet tents. Some of us decided to answer our nature's call to the open fields and that was a wise decision at Chilludgarh considering that the pits dug in the two toilet tents got spent after 4 craps! On the other hand were the late risers especially the U-19 and the girls the most consistent of which was our showstopper Divya! For each day except the last she would come out crying "Hye Rabba, kitni thand hai" to the amusement of us all and to the dismay of Saranbir! But I will give this to Divya that she was the energy of the trek and it has led her to love mountains, forge lasting friendships especially with Saranbir. Saran showed us how to pack sleeping bags before we left for our second day's hike and some of us packed them with numb fingers which gradually warmed up with the effort. Vedant and Yatharth left us at this point as Vedant was not feeling well and he was escorted by a guide back down to Taluka. This aspect of IH is good too as if one fails to complete the trek because of weather or health issues one can re-trek the same later at no cost. The initial 2 kms of hike from Chilludgarh to Osla was steep. We had already climbed 1500 feet from Sankri on the first day and in this initial climb from Chilludgarh to Osla it was a further 700 feet gain. Naturally everyone was panting at Osla. By then Divya had lost her 5 grand costly spectacles, her credit cards and some cash forcing her to make a satellite phone call home at Osla. This prompted others to call too. Some of us decided not to call and though I had an exam result pending and an interview date lurking I too decided to shun the phone for nature's peace. At Osla is an ancient temple of Lord Shiva. Legend has it that the temple was initially made to honor Duryodhan but as people realised Duryodhan's devilry it was converted to a Shiva temple. The temple is made completely of wood mounted on stone with many wood carvings. Saranbir initially planned of trekking to Har ki Dun straight but considering the pace of the group he decided against it and aimed to camp at Kalkattidhar (10000 ft.) which was about 7kms from Osla. The trail before and after Osla is strewn with loose rocks and boulders with certain sections of landslides. There is a very steep climb at a landslide hit area traversed by a stream. It looked so precarious that for a moment I thought the mules would trip over! We had to also negotiate a pine tree log which had completely blocked the trail. A little ahead of Osla in the valley below was visible the village of Seema covered in snow. Across Seema, another trail moved sinuously ahead which leads further to Ruinsara Tal. This trail also bifurcates further leading to an 11 day long trek to Yamunotri. Our trail then opened up to a vast field with little or no ascents. Here we made our lunch stop. We reached Kalkattidhar early at about 2.30pm. Kalkattidhar too was covered in snow. To the west of Kalkattidhar the Kedarkantha top was visible. To the east was Kala Nag peak and the Bandarpoonch ranges. To the north was the Pir Panjal range leading on to Himachal Pradesh. We set camp and as we were having our Maggi and tea, we witnessed a most beautiful sunset. The mountains on the east and north east were lit up in orange and yellow while the setting sun made mesmerizing patterns in the west. Irabeer our guide showed us the local geography. As we had reached early that day there was a lot of scope for merry making. While Aditya kept on pulling Ashok's leg the rest were busy singing songs, Divya taking the lead. The songs went from new ones, to oldies and finally to Honey Singh wherein Saranbir joined in. If not for Saran's constant reminders regarding water intake, rest and cold, we would have sung on to late midnight. I will particularly remember Divya's : "Aunty police bula legi, yaar tera kar lega handle" and her assumption that the ice axe Saran was carrying was his Kripaan!!! Kalkattidhar camp was on a slope which meant sleeping with heads elevated and a very troubled sleep! Before tucking in, myself, Antariksh and the Tulsyan sisters were sharing some really horrid stories. I think they will not forget Antariksh's particularly disgusting story from school! Next morning was very different weather wise. The sky had opened up. Saran had dug up a pit so huge in the toilet tent that it had become difficult figuring out exactly how to position one for crapping! Familiarly the late risers needed Saran's constant yells to get out. After a demo on how to use Gaiters and microspikes we set off towards Har ki Dun. Again like Chilludgarh, the trail immediately steepened. I decided that day to walk with Divya at the tail. I could not do it more than 15 mins! As soon as we reached the top of the incline from Kalkattidhar we were greeted by a most fabulous view of the HKD peaks. On the rear the Kala Nag rose against the blue sky like the serpent's hood it's named after. On the previous day these peaks were receiving fresh snowfall but now they stood clear. The trail after this incline was fairly even with a few ups and downs. On the way we passed a semi frozen waterfall which was also the place where we refilled our bottles. The HKD peaks made for beautiful and differently spectacular pictures on this ideal day for photography. The backdrop of the peaks with alpine trees or dried trees was brilliant. Finally the HKD valley was distantly visible 2 kms prior. At the wee end of this trail was another moderate climb through snow. While the entire trail was laid out with snow it was not deep enough to wear gaiters nor icy enough to wear microspikes which was a relief. As we neared HKD campsite, the Swargarohini peaks (I, II and III) made their appearance through constantly shifting clouds. I waited almost half an hour to see if the clouds completely cleared off the summit but in vain and I concluded perhaps the name Swargarohini is apt. HKD campsite (11,500 ft.) faced the Swargarohini massif which lay to its south. Hata Peak and Har ki Dun top lay towards the east and Kedarkantha was seen in the distance on the west. That day we decided to do a recce towards Hata Peak. Some of us who were feeling fit to do it left after a round of Tang while others stayed back and pitched tents. As we went towards the valley beside Hata Peak we crossed the GMVN lodge where some other trekkers were staying. Hata Peak was a beauty as the sun and clouds played a shadow dance over it. As it was already getting late we decided to return. Another trail climbs up towards the north east near Hata Peak and leads to a lake called Manindra Tal. By the time we reached HKD campsite it was sunset. Though the sunset was not as brilliant as at Kalkattidhar, it made for a superb panorama shot with HKD top and Swargarohini in the frame. The HKD campsite was being lashed by strong winds and this prompted me to finally don a thermal lower and add another layer on top. Here the cold was relentless. I was also having a headache thanks to dehydration. Jay and Siddhesh had pharyngitis and Siddhesh's complaint of coughing blood prompted me into checking his lung fields for pulmonary edema. Thankfully the blood was due to pharyngitis. As I had replenished myself with loads of water (warm water was finally provided as Saran realized the bitter cold) I had to get up twice at night to pee which meant putting on shoes again, a mammoth task in that weather!!! Though it dipped to -3 to -4 degrees at night it felt more like -7 or -8 thanks to the wind. But inside the tents it was warm in the sleeping bags with the fleece lined inner. The following day dawned clear and sunny. We were supposed to attempt reaching Jaundhar glacier which lay 7 kms ahead. We left our backpacks and carried only our daypacks. After a lot of "Hye Rabba", Divya decided to join us. The trail to Jaundhar is initially same till the GMVN lodge, then it descends down steeply to the vast snowfield lying between HKD top and Swargarohini through which meanders the HKD Nala. As we landed on the snowfield we also noted footprints of the Himalayan Bear. After a lot of candid photography we marched on towards Jaundhar which lay towards the north east. The snow in the field was about 3/4 of a foot deep and even though we were wearing gaiters snow still managed to creep into our shoes. Several stops later we reached a precarious incline. Some of the trekkers decided not to venture further. But we (myself, Shantanu, Rahul, Aditya, Sirish, Vivek, Anil and Irabeer) went on. Some of us plunged their feet into crevasses. We reached Kyaarkoti (12021 ft.) after a 60 degree incline riddled with foot deep snow and loose rocks. Irabeer decided it wasn't wise to venture further to Jaundhar. We had come about 5 km from HKD campsite but still the glacier was not visible. Disappointed, we returned. At the precarious incline I mentioned we slid down the snow where Saran was waiting. All of us were hungry too and Brij Mohan was carrying lunch. To everyone's amusement Saran informed that we were to trek on back until we find Divya who was the lunch point! After spotting her and having lunch consisting of Pulaav we headed back to HKD stopping at the GMVN lodge for lemon tea. As we reached HKD camp all our shoes and socks were wet. Though Saran insisted that we keep on wearing them to prevent loss of body heat some of us removed them to dry in the dying light of the setting sun in vain. That night he also informed us about Acute Mountain Sickness and the rescue plans in case anyone develops it on a trek. The cook delighted us with some awesome Gulab Jamuns the likes of which one may not even find in a city! That night was marginally better with lesser wind. Shubham managed to click an awesome snap of the HKD top surrounded by a sea of stars. I had to get up just once at 4am for pee but that was delightful. Peeing under a sky studded with stars and shooting stars is heaven! Ha ha ha! Next day Divya woke up relatively early as we had to descend! It was a 16km descent back to Chilludgarh. The front trekkers descended rapidly so much so that they were 1 hour ahead of the sweeper. On the way back beautiful patterns had formed in a blue sky peppered with cirrus clouds. This combined with the landscape made for stunning pictures. At Kalkattidhar on our previous campsite the snow had melted completely and a great blunder revealed its ugly face. The kitchen staff had buried the Maggi packets in the ground which vultures dug open and exposed them in plain sight. Though we cleared them all up it raised a serious issue of campsite etiquette. While the kitchen staff claimed that they had buried them so that they could be removed on the way back it was also possible that they did that just matter of factly. I had noticed that this problem was inherent with the locals. They don't bother to keep the trail clean as was evident when I offered a candy to a village kid who promptly threw the wrapper on the ground. Like our attitude in the cities and our daily surroundings their attitude is the same. Thus, though green trails initiative is great something also needs to be done on this front. We had lunch again on the way. At Osla some of us made satellite phone calls again. We reached Chilludgarh at about 4pm. There was something not right with Divya as she ran off behind a boulder at Chilludgarh and was crying. It took Aditya, myself, bonfire and a lot of singing to bring her back to life but when she did oh boy! Saran was in trouble! It was Christmas that day and being the penultimate day of the trek Saran agreed on a bonfire which our sailor Antariksh lit up with a lot of gusto. We all got Christmas caps and were further surprised by the cook with a Christmas cake (with and without egg too!). As the bonfire died and the dinner finished we all got to singing songs, songs and more songs. That evening U-19, Aditya and Divya owned! Saranbir ko aisa blackmail kiya with songs like "Ruk ruk ruk", "ruk ja oh dil deewani" as he was trying to coax everyone to sleep. Divya infact caught hold of his rucksack and Saran had to grudgingly sit in the dining tent while we sang on! Finally it was only by 11.30pm that people went off to their tents. By then Divya who initially did not want to trek any further was now not wanting to go back at all! The following morning was a very eventful one. Saran awarded us the certificates for the trek here too the showstopper being Divya! As soon as we trekked out of Chilludgarh we were hit by sections of trail iced out. This meant that they were extremely slippery. Many of us fell down, hurt our palms, elbows and prompted Saran to ensure that these sections were navigated properly. Here came the importance of trekking shoes. Had it been sports shoes I would have fallen many times more. As we neared Taluka and halted for lunch at the flat meadow two kms before Taluka, half the team had lost its way and trekked up a wrong trail. Saran had to go back and find and bring them to course. From this point on the line of trekkers was maintained till Taluka. Finally, I decided to challenge myself with the most difficult part; walk as sweeper with Divya and I am proud that I was able to finish last! We reached Taluka at about 4.30pm and after a round of tea and tips to the trekking staff we headed back to Sankri. At Sankri this time we were at the Swargarohini Hotel. Ashish Gupta ji and Aditya made arrangements for sweet amber while the U-19 and Shantanu were ready with bholenaath ka prasad. After a night of well deserved frivolity we slept in beds after 5 days! Next morning some of us took a bath, others waited for their turn at Dehradun and finally we left bidding goodbye to the Indiahikes team. Our vehicle broke down at Mori due to a puncture, probably cursed as we started earlier than others. After Aloo parathas at Puraula, some horrible and expensive bhutta and chaat at Kempty falls and watching Gutar Gutar on Youtube we reached Dehradun at 5.30 in the evening. I was also rewarded with the good news of having passed my Postgrad examination. Me, Rahul and Antariksh took a room near the station in a hotel for the much needed bath. The Tulsyan sisters and Salvin had already bid goodbye to us at Mussoorie. Aditya, Ashok, Ashish and Divya were at Black Pepper for booze. Finally we boarded the Nanda Devi express at night with me, Divya and Antariksh chatting on to late night before we fell asleep. This adventure was awesome for so many reasons. Firstly and most importantly the credit goes to mother earth and nature for having blessed us with other worldly sights and wonders in the lap of the Himalayas. Secondly, to Indiahikes which taught me a lot of things apart from just trekking. I now know how to pitch and pack a tent, pack a sleeping bag and rucksack and keep the trail clean. Thirdly, to our wonderful batch of trekkers. In Antariksh, Shantanu, Aditya and Rahul I have found people who I might trek with again. In Divya, I found a most awesome friend. In the U-19 I discovered and lived again the joys of being in college again. In Kartik I saw the maturity, in Vivek and Rahul the steely resolve. In the two Ashishs the desi touch and in Tulsyan sisters and Salvin the desire to do something new and in Sirish and Chirag the bond of brotherhood. Finally, I would laud Saranbir for his selfless dedication to his job and his desire to teach something to someone every day. Three cheers to the HKD 20-27 Dec team and to Indiahikes! The road goes ever on and on!

Shutter Island: Review

"I was wondering Chuck, which is worse? To live as a monster or to die like a good man?" Martin Scorsese never fails to impress even with his chilling new thriller. Known for blockbusters like The Departed, Scorsese ventures into the thriller section with his favourite man, Leonardo DiCaprio.
The story is of Edward aka Teddy Daniels who is a U.S Marshal and is called in for investigating the escape of a female inmate from the highly secure penitentiary for the criminally insane, Shutter Island along with his partner Chuck. They soon discover that everything is not what it seems to be while Daniels is continuously haunted by the horrors of his murky past when he investigates on the island. The story rattles ahead with leisurely pace as Daniels is on the verge of uncovering an unsettling government operation being run behind the closed walls of Shutter Island. Then, everything goes topsy turvy.
Shutter Island is a gripping, enthralling piece of cinema by the master storyteller Scorsese which in addition to living up to its genre also delivers some food for thought. Brilliantly cinematographed, splendidly acted and unbelievably unpredictable (not for those who are careful scrutinizers of thrillers), Shutter Island scores on all fronts.
I would have been a bit more happy if the running time was a tad bit shorter and also the unnervingly long climax. But in the end as they say all is well that ends well.

Curls fall Down

I can’t look where I am going,

Into the twilight my shadow’s growing.

Darkness creeps and crawls by,

Ghosts of the past scream and cry.

A glint of metal shines on her cheek,

Like hope in the dark giving a peek.

But looking further I can’t see,

The curls fall down, are they of grief or glee?

Silence ahead, not a sound,

Sure and swish the curls fall down.

And I am happy, I feel no pain,

December it was still felt like rain.

The tears have gone but the cloud’s still there,

I can’t see the sun but the light is there.

A music flows that never once was,

They say it’s love but can I make a pass?

So do you now see?

Groping further but I can’t feel,

The curls fall down, with numbness I deal.

There’s something ahead yet to be found,

But then thick and fast the curls fall down.

Suddenly all the light has come,

The music’s gone and a noise has sprung.

Mercy O Lord! I have fallen again,

The curls are gone and a horror has gained.

For the metal I saw glinting on the cheek,

Was no fucking hope but a killing machine.

And you stabbed it in my eyes,

The loser within me he cries.

Ghosts of the past they are alive today,

They cry no more they just bleed away.

I am numb no more I only reek,

Now I know what your silence speaks.

Looking ahead now I have seen,

There’s a cross that shines with sheen.

Groping further I can feel,

Wreath of thorns and stones on the green.

But yeah there’s something ahead yet to be found,

It’s not the end but the curls fall down.

The Grass, the Beer, the Music

I was poring over the pages of the insanely monotonous Amit-Ashish book reading an even insaner subject called Preventive and Social Medicine. My mind was rattled by "epidemiology, statistics, sensitivity, specificity..blah blah blah". I gave in finally to my continuously rising urge to put on the earphones of my newly bought phone. I hit the play button of the playlist I made just yesterday.
First song: November Rain! I had named this playlist as "Ethereal", full of those songs which really make my hair stand up. Slash's piercing solo just does it all and the lines - "I know it's hard to keep an open heart, when even friends seem out to harm you. But if you could heal the broken heart, wouldn't time be out to charm you!" Oh they simply made me travel back in time. The endless "daaru parties", the roadtrips, the Amberro, the Grass and this kind of music! What a time it was! I remember one of the first times we were having this kind of a party in the bedbug ridden room on 1 mid floor in the AFMC hostel. There we were, in our first year, drinking White Mischief in the dimmest of lights with Akshat Vyas' music CDs playing on an All in One player (yes, laptops ka craze nahi aya tha). And how we boozed out on Pink Floyd and Judas Priest. I clearly remember that Beyond the Realms of Death was definitely played that night. And after that, we put in lit matchsticks into the empty Vodka bottles to trip out on the ghostly glow they gave! Next day, there was some inspection and the officers who came wondered if we smoked!
The feeling I always got after going high is so difficult to put in words. Obviously as the feeling is really felt at the time one is high! There was this one time, after our 5th term Prelim exams, we were partying in my small single room, all of us, the Ganjedis and the Chitedis and the Kukkus. We decided to play the Requiem for a Dream soundtrack and to get stoned by the time it ended, some 45 odd minutes. I put the I-tunes on the visualizer mode, shut off the light and just twirled in the dazzling array of colors it brought forth! So fucking trippy! And then as people told me later I was sitting in a meditational pose! Another time, me and Prabhu smoked up weed and hogged the costliest dinner we had in the Insti Canteen ever! For those of you who don't know, Cannabis makes you really hungry!
Then I left weed for good, deciding I will smoke up once more before I left college. I came down to alcohol. And though it wasn't bad but it is no way better than weed. Reasons:
1. No hangover with weed.
2. No liver damage, nor any lung damage(if you smoke it pure)
3. No addiction(medically this is a fact)
4. Makes you really hungry.
5. Hits fast, fades fast.
6. Most importantly, DIRT CHEAP!
For the next 3 years I was to survive on all kinds of alcohol. Went from Vodka to Rum to Whiskey to Beer and then Rum again. Then came the day, the last time I smoked up, with Sutta Vyas. Silhouettes, our college fest was going on and we decided to hog on the Burger Barn burgers after our weed session. He played this song called Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley and though the song is some 6 odd minutes long I felt like it was playing for 20 minutes! He has clicked some stoned pictures of mine which I haven't got to see as yet. Then we went to the Burger stall floating in the air as we glided over the ground. Yes, I actually felt like flying. The stall was closed! After giving do chaar maa behen ki gaali we headed off to the AFMC adda Snehal. What a day!
And as I write this, I am listening to Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah! The twirling colors, the smell of grass, the taste of beer and the Chicken Manchurian of Insti is all engraved in my mind. And it wouldn't be wrong if I said - "Every breath we drew was Hallelujah!" Truly, college was heaven!

I Hate Luv Storys: Review

Unlike the twisted spelling of the main title, this latest Bollywood romantic flick is pretty straight forward. A guy and a girl, with completely different belief systems fall in love and everything is funny and happy. Popcorn?
Dharma Productions aka KJo pulls off a valiant effort in making a mockery of his own films in this film, the interesting part being that it doesn't bore you too much. The film is the story of Jay (pronounced as J)Dhingra played by Imran Khan, a reckless, charming young man trying to make his name in the film industry under the most popular romance films' director of his age, Veer Kapoor. He is flirty, funny, carefree guy who can't accept the fact that something like love exists. Dil Chahta Hai? Anyone?
On the other hand is Simran (oh get over that name!), played by Sonam Kapoor who is a total girly girly girl, who loves fairy tale romance, the colour pink, red roses and soft toys, not to mention the movies people like Veer Kapoor make. To add to her romantic repertoire is her unfailingly faithful boyfriend Raj (oh yes you guessed it right!) who makes her life nearly perfect.
These two total opposites meet through their shared interests in film making. At first, Simran is annoyed and repulsed by Jay's reckless attitude and his denial that love exists, but then small, funny but interesting things happen between them that makes her fall for him.
But then as predictable Bollywood is, Jay refuses her proposal only to realise later that he too actually harbored love for her. And so we have a candyfloss romance on our hands punctuated by occasional sentimental dialogues, lots of humor and a happy ending.
Frankly speaking, IHLS has nothing great to offer, but I found the chemistry and the freshness of Sonam and Imran heartwarming. The story is very predictable but it has its funny moments and high points. The music is catchy and I couldn't help tapping my feet to the title song. I think New Zealand should have been left in peace, after LOTR nothing seems better.
I would say that this is a perfect popcorn flick, no brains to be taken along to the theater if I may advise. Just sit back and enjoy. For KJo's fresh effort I'd say a 6 on 10? Purely for its time pass!Like Jay says, it ain't so Fugly!

Here I am on the road again!

The car screeches to a halt on the dusty road. The passenger's door opens and I am thrown out of it ruthlessly with my personals out on the road. I taste earth as I have tasted so many times before. Without a pause, the car steamrolls ahead. I get up and crane my neck to look as the road meets the horizon, does the car get a new passenger?
I am weary, tired and sickened by the monotone of the eventful life I have had. This latest car has given me a gash on my left cheek. It is bleeding. I don't feel like staunching it. Oddly, I have a similar looking scar, a remnant of a similar gash on my right cheek. Bemused, I roll up my sleeves, open my shirt, draw up my jeans and I can see what life has done to me. My whole body is a patchwork of scars. Some given by love, some by friendship, some by the so called "professional life" and some which I have inflicted upon myself. I pick up my belongings and walk ahead.
The road as I said is dusty. It is windy throughout the year on this road. I have been going around on this one as long as I can remember. It appears to me like one big circle, though strangely I can never find anything which I left behind or lost. The wind blows it away. Time heals the wounds.
Often however it has happened that I do find lost memories on the road. No, not trampled beneath innumerable feet which tread this path but it's the memories and people that come from behind and open like a new journey on the same road. I have been haunted by these memories and people. How can I go on with something which has given me these scars pretending to forget what happened? Yes time does heal the wounds, but the scars remain. It is so pathetic of my human nature that I tend to accept these unforgettable thorns that once were roses. And it is so much more sissy of me to feel that they actually are roses after I spend some time on this road with them. Then they speed away, they are there like a pseudo image in front of my eyes, but actually they are far away, pretending not to hear, ensnaring some new victim, despite the fact that they themselves are also the travellers of this road.
But I ain't too big a fool you know. They gave me the pain, the scars, the thorns and all they could do to hurt me. Did I just collapse and bleed to death? I have thorns to give myself, gashes to be bled, scars to be carved, smiles to be stolen, pain to be inflicted. I am not just the dust on the road to be blown away by a speeding car, no. I am a car myself, I am the wind.
I hear it, the sound of an approaching car, I wave my hand and the car stops. A beautiful young girl's driving it. I look at her wrist, scarred. I smile to myself, I have a heart to bleed!

Robin Hood: Review

Ridley Scott + Russell Crowe = Gladiator aka a blockbuster, Ridley Scott + Russell Crowe = Body of Lies, again an awesome movie. Ridley Scott + Russell Crowe = Robin Hood, this time it's not so good a product.
Robin Hood as all of those who have read the classic novel know, is the story of Robin Longstride who is an archer in the army of King Richard, the Lionheart who returns to England after his worthless crusade to find England in shackles of aristocracy where poor are becoming poorer and the rich becoming richer. The movie is a narrative of the time when Robin Longstride was not Robin Hood. It is the making of the outlaw, the outlaw whose story we know and that is why the movie fails to connect. The story goes as Richard Lionheart is slain in battle and kingship is passed on to his lesser brother John who is warming the bed with a French princess Isabella. He is betrayed by Godfrey, a French in disguise of an English who has conspired with King Phillip of France to attack the unstable England. England, which has been divided on the inside by Godfrey's evil plans and King John's foolishness. However, Robin's new "father", Sir Walter shows him the path towards true justice and they manage to unite England under one banner and defeat the French on the word of the King that his oppression will end and there will be a charter of liberty which will be passed. In the end though, as most foolhardy leaders do, he burns the charter and declares Robin an outlaw, to be hunted till death.
And so, the legend begins as the last frame of the movie says. Robin Hood is a knowledgeable experience to those who did not know the making of the outlaw. The movie finishes with a promise of a sequel which obviously has to come. The major characters of the film, apart from Robin, Maid Marian, the Sheriff and Robin's gang of outlaws have little part in this film. What this movie lacks is the usual grandiosity of Ridley Scott's movies mainly because of a story which hardly holds anything to keep you gripped. It purely is a knowledge experience more than a cinematic one. The background score, the cinematography, the performances are all good but we have seen much better from Ridley Scott.
I am waiting for the sequel because it is where the story of the Robin hood we know begins. I guess the movie standed in stead with its motto - Rise and rise until lambs become lions! I will go on a 3 on 5 for a completely average movie.