“ Wonderful “!
This was the experiece of 'WonderLa' in one word. This amazing trip happened last Sunday. WonderLa is Amusment Park having many thrilling rides (both dry and wet). Some of the rides really are breathtaking and test the courage of the rider. The kid within me came out with full force. My friend says, "I am paying money to get scared! This is scary business ;-)". Whatever it is - it is fun, adventure and thrilling.
We, Indian have a culture of group celebrations. We are wired to enjoy, laugh, cry, party and do anything in-group. A natural extension of this group culture is to have group activities at workplace. Call it 'team fun day', 'outding day', 'fun day' or any other crazy name. Idea remains same. You go out with your work buddies and do anything other than work. This 'outing' day is the most liked day by majority of people. It would easily win 'Most enojyable day of last X month' award, hands down!
Software techies are known for laziness. I think our bunch is on top of that category. So, in principle we never do activities, which would require movement of any body parts except fingers. Doing any activity that has possibility of pain is big no-no for us. Our 'group' activity generally means eating, drinking (to save water some people prefer bear and all!! ) and doing lots of 'bakar'( Could not find right English word for it, may be because English guys do not do it ;-) ).'Bakar' essentially means doing chit-chat without topic and laughing out load on anything.
By bad fortune, this time we decided to go to wonderland (aka WonderLa), which is located outside of Bangalore. Among many good rides, my favourites are 'Insanity' and 'Lazy River’. Oxford dictionary describe word insanity as "in or relating to an unsound state of mind; seriously mentally ill". This ride does not disappoint and lives upto its name. It leaves the rider in relatively permanent disorder of mind! The ride will rotate, revolve, move, shake, and throw in all possible angles and directions in good speed. You sit helplessly and only companion in that moment of fear is 'cry'.
Intially finishing comparitively easier ride give some sort of confidence. But it was of no use as Insanity was confidence-shaking ride, anyway ;-(. I wish, I could describe experiece of one friend in his own words. But the gentle language of blog does not allow me ;-). You know, what I mean! I enjoyed insanity a lot and went there again after a break to have another round of this crazy and horrifiying ride. But was disappointed when operator said miminum 10 persons are needed. There were long queues for other rides. For Insanity, we 3-4 guys waited and waited. No one turned up and unfortunately I could not get the thrill again.
The other good ride was 'Lazy River'. The 'Lazy' prefix, made it ride of choice for many. It was indeed lazy. You put yourself in the air tube and leave in the river (3-4 feet deep). The water flows slowly and river meets itself after a circle. This leaves you on same spot where you started with zero calorie loss! Our group was bit crazy and turned this lazy-friendly ride into hyperactive one. Basically, people would turn the air tube upside-down and now you are into 3-4 feet water. Laziness was distrubed ;-( One again sits on the tube and in few seconds finds again into the water. Conspiracies and sudden shock were the element of that moment. Soon we found each of us throwing everyone else into water. Also it was an opportunity for new swimmer like me to try different techniques. It was an out and out fun.
The trip was as wondrous and memoriable as past trips to WonderLa. My only advice if you are planning to go there is “Do not miss Insanity”! May you come out “safe” out of instanity ;-). All the best!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Experience of Chhayageet
It is around 10 years back I started listening radio. One programme, I try not miss is 'Chhayageet'(छायागीत). It is on 'Vividh Bharti' radio station, every day 10pm.
Cocept of chhayageet is derived from 'Chhayavad'. It roughly translated to 'Era of shadow'. It was an era in Hindi poetry during which love for nature and love for mysticism upsurged. Poets like Jaishankar Prasad used the symbolism to express the beauty of poetry, depth of emotions and feelings. I have likings for writings of this era. They are simply amazing; possibly peak of classic Hindi poetry.
Chhayageet is on same concept, though at much less intensity of symbolism. The anchor (generally Kamal Sharma or Amarkant or Yunus Khan) would do commentry or poetry or express the nicely written theme phrases in-between songs. The songs are based on some common theme. Sometime it is 'virah'( pain of separation ), sometime love, sometime nature and so on. The binding between the songs is theme and the commentry by host RJ. Listenig commentry is as pleasure as the songs.
After day’s hard work, one go to bed to relax. The music starts on Vividh Bharti. Chhayageet steps in and breaks silence of night. I am in 'tandra' (The state of higher consciousness between sleeping and waking ). Soft, soothing and old music is playing. The songs are as wonderful as it can get. I am half sleep, half woken.
Body is sleeping, thoughts are disappearing, and mind is still. The calmness of night would accept nothing but 'Chhaya'( or chhayageet ). Music appears to come from infinity. It comes and dissolves into me. I surrender to its magic. The combination of 'going into sleep' while listening chhayageet is unmatchable. It is unmatchable in experience, calmness. One appreciates music as never before.
This amazing composition was coming to my ears yesterday when I was sleeping. Wished, I could stop the universe at that moment!! Listen it here. Video is not that good. Songs are all about lyrics and music. It has best of both.
"Palkonke peechhe se kya tune kahe dala fire-se to farmaana...... Nainone sapnon ki mehfil sajayee hai tum bhi jaroor aana......"
Thanks Vividh Bharti for having such wonderful creation. Long live chhayageet!!
Cocept of chhayageet is derived from 'Chhayavad'. It roughly translated to 'Era of shadow'. It was an era in Hindi poetry during which love for nature and love for mysticism upsurged. Poets like Jaishankar Prasad used the symbolism to express the beauty of poetry, depth of emotions and feelings. I have likings for writings of this era. They are simply amazing; possibly peak of classic Hindi poetry.
Chhayageet is on same concept, though at much less intensity of symbolism. The anchor (generally Kamal Sharma or Amarkant or Yunus Khan) would do commentry or poetry or express the nicely written theme phrases in-between songs. The songs are based on some common theme. Sometime it is 'virah'( pain of separation ), sometime love, sometime nature and so on. The binding between the songs is theme and the commentry by host RJ. Listenig commentry is as pleasure as the songs.
After day’s hard work, one go to bed to relax. The music starts on Vividh Bharti. Chhayageet steps in and breaks silence of night. I am in 'tandra' (The state of higher consciousness between sleeping and waking ). Soft, soothing and old music is playing. The songs are as wonderful as it can get. I am half sleep, half woken.
Body is sleeping, thoughts are disappearing, and mind is still. The calmness of night would accept nothing but 'Chhaya'( or chhayageet ). Music appears to come from infinity. It comes and dissolves into me. I surrender to its magic. The combination of 'going into sleep' while listening chhayageet is unmatchable. It is unmatchable in experience, calmness. One appreciates music as never before.
This amazing composition was coming to my ears yesterday when I was sleeping. Wished, I could stop the universe at that moment!! Listen it here. Video is not that good. Songs are all about lyrics and music. It has best of both.
"Palkonke peechhe se kya tune kahe dala fire-se to farmaana...... Nainone sapnon ki mehfil sajayee hai tum bhi jaroor aana......"
Thanks Vividh Bharti for having such wonderful creation. Long live chhayageet!!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Swimmer of the Month - I
So finally, decided to do this crazy thing also. With all passion and high spirit( aka "josh"), decided to join swimming classes. With two friends, went to enroll for class.
"So we would be expert swimmer", I asked while giving form. I must confess that my stress was on 'expert' word ;-). It is just impossible to be an expert in just 21 days - but no taxes on high hopes( or call it my fertile imagination, given the impracticality of it ! ). By the way, 21 seems most commonly used/abused word. So many books having title like 'Learn how to be Superhero in 21-days( replace Superhero with any term you like - actor, manager, poet, singer, musician or worst a swimmer!! ).
"You would learn basics" the reply came.
Of course, this was bit discouraging. But hopeful ( or hopeless is more appropriate word!?) guys like me believe in looking at brighter side of things. I consoled myself that 'basic learning' is for normal learners and I would do more. Never knew, these high hope were soon going to be drowned in the pool water ;-)
So we finally started with full 'josh'. First few days were easy. Splash legs left right left, do basic hand movements and other sort of basic things. It was more of play and we enjoyed it. Frankly, swimming looked easy and 21-days seemed more for such basic thing.
As days passed, coach pushed into real swimming. Now, the pool appeared wider and longer, initial high hopes hit the reality and watered down. Suddenly, 21-days seemed less time! Lungs started saying 'oxygen mange more' while swimming. Respect for Michael Phelps ( the guys who won 8 gold at Beijing Olympic in swimming ) increased !
Swimming require technique, stamina, persistence and much more. If you think these are inappropriate words, then try and you would not have different opinion ;-) At least, I know it hard way!
Classes are still on ( will end on 25-Feb) and I am struggling! Now the water feels cold, pool looks wider and I no more want to be an 'expert' swimmer! Basically, it would be good for me if I stop abusing 'expert' word ;-) Have set a realistic target for myself. To cross 21-metre( a coincidence that pool width is 21! ) wide pool from the deeper side. 16-feet depth is too much, psychologically speaking ;-). So this is my 'do or drown' mission now and want to finish it before classed ends.
You can wish me luck. I would need it when in 16-feet deep water and no one around ;-)
Going for swimming class now!!
"So we would be expert swimmer", I asked while giving form. I must confess that my stress was on 'expert' word ;-). It is just impossible to be an expert in just 21 days - but no taxes on high hopes( or call it my fertile imagination, given the impracticality of it ! ). By the way, 21 seems most commonly used/abused word. So many books having title like 'Learn how to be Superhero in 21-days( replace Superhero with any term you like - actor, manager, poet, singer, musician or worst a swimmer!! ).
"You would learn basics" the reply came.
Of course, this was bit discouraging. But hopeful ( or hopeless is more appropriate word!?) guys like me believe in looking at brighter side of things. I consoled myself that 'basic learning' is for normal learners and I would do more. Never knew, these high hope were soon going to be drowned in the pool water ;-)
So we finally started with full 'josh'. First few days were easy. Splash legs left right left, do basic hand movements and other sort of basic things. It was more of play and we enjoyed it. Frankly, swimming looked easy and 21-days seemed more for such basic thing.
As days passed, coach pushed into real swimming. Now, the pool appeared wider and longer, initial high hopes hit the reality and watered down. Suddenly, 21-days seemed less time! Lungs started saying 'oxygen mange more' while swimming. Respect for Michael Phelps ( the guys who won 8 gold at Beijing Olympic in swimming ) increased !
Swimming require technique, stamina, persistence and much more. If you think these are inappropriate words, then try and you would not have different opinion ;-) At least, I know it hard way!
Classes are still on ( will end on 25-Feb) and I am struggling! Now the water feels cold, pool looks wider and I no more want to be an 'expert' swimmer! Basically, it would be good for me if I stop abusing 'expert' word ;-) Have set a realistic target for myself. To cross 21-metre( a coincidence that pool width is 21! ) wide pool from the deeper side. 16-feet depth is too much, psychologically speaking ;-). So this is my 'do or drown' mission now and want to finish it before classed ends.
You can wish me luck. I would need it when in 16-feet deep water and no one around ;-)
Going for swimming class now!!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Hello World!
Hello World!
"The Last Freedom" is a search of a random individual about life, its purpose and challenges. It is about 'The Last Freedom' and about the path to that.
Welcome to my blog. I am Suresh, have inclination to-wards spirituality, philosophy, trekking, yoga, advance technical troubleshooting and so many other things. This is my first attempt on blogging, do not know how long I would post here. I was thinking about blogging since at least 2 years, but my laziness always won. This time I am inspired to blog; would write some other day on inspiration.
Mostly my posts would be related to observations about life and its meaning, the current happening around the globe, yoga, adventure, struggle stories on challenge to change my boundaries and essentially anything under the Sun, I think about. Having said that, basically, do not know myself what exactly I would write about ;-) .
If you happen to reach here, by accident or by deliberate attempt - then do say "Hi" to me. That would be encouraging; I would know someone is reading the random thought of mine.
Hope to post here weekly/fortnightly.
"The Last Freedom" is a search of a random individual about life, its purpose and challenges. It is about 'The Last Freedom' and about the path to that.
Welcome to my blog. I am Suresh, have inclination to-wards spirituality, philosophy, trekking, yoga, advance technical troubleshooting and so many other things. This is my first attempt on blogging, do not know how long I would post here. I was thinking about blogging since at least 2 years, but my laziness always won. This time I am inspired to blog; would write some other day on inspiration.
Mostly my posts would be related to observations about life and its meaning, the current happening around the globe, yoga, adventure, struggle stories on challenge to change my boundaries and essentially anything under the Sun, I think about. Having said that, basically, do not know myself what exactly I would write about ;-) .
If you happen to reach here, by accident or by deliberate attempt - then do say "Hi" to me. That would be encouraging; I would know someone is reading the random thought of mine.
Hope to post here weekly/fortnightly.
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