Vacation Diaries - Part IV: An Adventure waiting to happen

The best way to have an adventure is to go out and have an adventure and not just wait to have an adventure. Go out there and explore, explore what the city has to offer, what the city has in store for you, cause there’s so much to see and discover, if you are only willing to open yourself to new things and let the city take you on a journey.

Pattaya, at first sight, may seem unassuming and quite, or maybe it was just because we arrived here at night and shops and streets bore quite a deserted look. But all this change the next morning.

After squeezing a run, or finally managing to drag my lazy butt from my comfy bed. It was pleasant surprise to see quite a bit of runners out, wearing various running tees from different events. Running on Jomtien Beach promenade made you feel one with the Road and the deep blue sea, which beautifully had different shades of blues and greens, right from the horizon to the shore. Seeing Runners yet running after 8, in the sun left me in awe, wondering how he he’ll were they managing to run in the sun. Walking bare feet in the clear sea water was an awesome feeling.

After lunch, me and my roomy, decided to go to the floating market, to break away from the group and do some touristy stuff, and in the bargain got an adventure of a lifetime.

Getting tuk-tuks, changing tuk-tuks, riding one, is an experience that one needs to have. Hanging from it reminded me of riding the Mumbai locals (which I swear I have missed in these pass couple of days). But yes you are one with your fellow travellers. It all enhanced the Thailand experience.

So just using public transportation and Google Maps we covered Pattaya Floating Market, some night street market, Outlet Mall (where I very much was temped to pick up running gear) and Pattaya Walking Street. Each had their own charm, their own crowd and smell and senses. From the clothes, the food, ambience, frying fishes and pineapple juices (and other juices), the water and the boats (of the floating market) everything gave you a unique experience. You were one with the crowd and the city, at times too in your face. 

A special mention to this awesome halal place were we took all are meals for the day (don’t really know the name), breakfast-lunch-dinner. The food was amazing (though I bit into quite a few chillies and had to eat ice chips and ice creams) and the services homely. Do go ahead and try it.

So in the end Pattaya gave us memories to last a lifetime that will remain with remain with us long after leave the Thailand. 

Vacation Diaries - Part III: A Bouncy Boat Ride And Swimming with the Fishes

“I’m moving, I’m coming, 

can you hear what I hear, 

it’s calling to you my dear, 

out of reach, take me to your beach

I can hear it calling out to you

I am coming, not drowning

swimming closer to you”

Somehow had this All Saints song on repeat in my head ever since the plan to vacation in Thailand was hatched. Like a ear worm, the song lodged itself firmly in my head and couldn’t get it out off my head, even if I wanted to (not that I wanted to).

And to get here you had take a very bouncy speedboat ride across the emerald sea. The boat bounced so much, as it sped across the sea that if a woman was pregnant, she would delivered her baby there itself (as put by our awesome guide Annisia). So bouncing we went trough the sea, with the wind in our face and the sun beating down on us, with the occasional spray of sea water.

The islands were beautiful and crowded. Everywhere you could see people of various nationalities and races and gender, as much as you could see water (ok I am a bit over exaggerating here). That said the view was something to marvel at (yes and the bikini clad ladies and men’s with washboard abs, even the Indian women couldn’t resist and don some beach attire).

The Flora and fauna of the island was remarkable, as was the the crystal clear sea. But at the same time you could also see sign of the preparedness after the country felt the wrath of the tsunami thirteen years ago.

Then you had the fishes, the corals and the sharks, not the great white ones, not that I wanted to see one. Snorkling in the sea can be rather disorienting at first, but once you get used to it can be real beautiful experience. Actually panicked when I first saw the depth that I was in (assumed we would be swimming in shallow water) after all I am distress swimmer (as my buddy Viv puts it), neither a crocodile or a chicken swimmer, as Annisia tried to describe it to us. Life under the sea is truly beautiful, as Sebastian the crab put it, the school of fishes, the corrals, the bloody legs of people you kept bumping into. Even tried to touch a fishy but it swam away fro me and I was too afraid to swim after it, even though I had my life vest on. 

So once you get used to breathing with the snorkelling gear everything is just a piece of cake (which unfortunately seemed to take me ages). Seeing the fishes and the legs of people is an experience (not that I wanted to see the legs of people).

So in the end phi phi island was one beautiful destination. A tad bit overcrowded, (who littered the place, but not as much as we Indians do). But on a whole an experience of breathtaking beauty. 

A short note, you got go with our guide Annisia and Unseen Andaman Island tour, she was the major reason those bumpy, bouncy and long boat rides weren’t so boring  and in fact was so hilarious.

Vacation Diaries: Part - II (cont.) The Temple Run

There are certain places you can’t describe in words, cause words won’t do any justice to what your eyes see. The beauty of the red and gold against the sea of blue skies needs to seen to actually fathom the beauty of the sight and architecture. The serenity and peace that your feel when you behold the sight of the Wat Chalong temples is something else.

Then you have the Big Buddha, a huge statue (please don’t ask me how big), overlooking the entire Phuket, is simply breathtaking. Walking up the stairs to the stupa, makes you feel as if the the statue of Buddha is looking at you and welcoming your with a gentle smile. It doesn’t matter who you are, what’s your race, gender or nationality, Buddha is welcoming you with a Peaceful smile, calling you to him to find peace.

The view from this place is simply breathtakingly beautiful. The endless blue skies and the emerald green sea, the number of boats speeding through or just rowing away, and the islands. And when the sun goes down it makes you feel the whole sky has been lit up in the orange glow of the setting sun, as if it has been set on fire. 

All this makes you feel truly blessed to feel alive, to have an opportunity to see these places and take in these sights, to truly enjoy what Phuket has to offer you.

Vacation Diaries - Part II: Running on Patong Beach

After last night’s sensory overload, it was nice to be once again at the beach for a run. I am no holier than thou, nor am I any “Doodh ka dula hua”, but somehow Bangla Street seemed to have shaken me. Not knowing where to look and what to look at, it took the beach to help me calm down my nerves (and no... this was not a cultural shock). So it felt right running on the beach once again.

Running against the emerald green sea, the blue skies with its swirling clouds, with the misty mountains in the background, and on clean beaches, it had everything a Runner could ask for.

The people on the beach had no care for the surrounding... they were in their bikini tops, speedos, neon tops and shoes, bear chested and string bikinis, they just didn’t care (by now in india they would have attracted a crowd of oglers and would have been booked for indecency). They were just busy doing their stuff, running, heading into the se, clicking photograph.

Running felt good and liberating, letting go of the pain, indecisiveness, overthinking, behind.

And so it begins the start of day two of the vacation.

Vacation Diaries - Part I

A journey of a thousand mile starts with a single, a vacation of a thousand miles begins with a single flight.

After almost six years finally managed a vacation, an international vacation. Strangely itself it is once again South-East Asia (not that I am complaining or cribbing about it).

Day 1 has gone in travelling and at airports and being up in the air. Not to forget the immigration lines and security checks., with the immigration check at Mumbai almost costing us our flight.

Travelling can be tiresome, running from one gate to another, one checkin counter to another, and long waits for your flights to be scheduled and rescheduled. But the sights you see, whether up in the air or at the airport, can be breathtaking and beautiful. So sometimes you need look beyond the long lines and soak in the experience.

So from Mumbai to Bangkok, Bangkok to Phuket, vacation has officially begun. Though was bit pensive about the trip, slowly and steadily getting into the flow.. so let see what this vacation has in store...   so it’s time to rest and relax and take in the sight of what Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya has to offer.

Dear Santa Haters

Dear Santa Hating Bigots,

How could you not like a cute, fat, jolly man, dressed in red and white, with a snow-white beard, (unless he’s creepy and unkempt) who comes bearing presents, and all he wants you to be is nice in return? Who doesn’t like presents... how hard is it to be nice... well in your case I know it can be difficult... what with all that pent up hate that you need to spread?

How can you accuse such a holly-jolly soul of conversion. Remember Santa is as much to Christmas as crackers are to Diwali.... and if you don’t get it, Santa has nothing to do with Christmas as crackers has nothing to do with Diwali. Both are just commercial symbols of the festival and have nothing whatsoever to do with the actual festival.

If you look at, by bringing present Santa is bringing joy and putting a smile on a face. Lighting crackers may bring momentary pleasure to the one that lights it, but then it can be a source of headache and distress to others, not to forget the noise and smoke. In short the pleasure is kind of sadistic. Not to forget that if you’re not careful crackers can be dangerous, even fatal. 

Being a Santa is all about spreading cheer, doing something good. Sadly you can’t, in any shape or form, say the same about crackers. So when you call out the mockery of being a Santa to the ban on crackers you seriously need to get a life, or find your humanity.

When was the last time did anything to spread joy and happiness, like say lighting a Diya for someone who is all alone and lonely. Do that and you would make Diwali more meaningful and beautiful. 

In the same way you don’t just need Christmas to be a Santa, and you don’t have to be a Christian to be one (otherwise my Secret Santa would have to be one).

So dearest Santa Haters, don’t be a Grinch. ‘Tis the season to be jolly, so don’t be grumpy and mad. Hang up your stocking and who knows you may just find something in it. Spread love and not hate, And if anyone is doing something good, don’t bring them down, in fact join them, and just Christmas, Diwali, Eid or any festival.

So I hope this festivals melts your icy cold heart and fills it with warmth and joy.

When He Ran with She

As individuals, we our strong, we have our strengths. But when we come together, we can do so much better.

Running always brings a kind of joy, a child like glee to the heart. But when you run for others, with others, there’s a whole different kind of happiness that comes over you.

I believe that as individuals we are strong, whether woman or man, but when we join forces there’s so much we can do, there’s so much we push each other to do, to achieve greater heights. Running with my buddy Pooja did just that.

It not that she or any of the ladies running the event needed a Male Pacer. I know for a fact that Pooja is a strong runner and capable of great things. I believe that every women who ran today, inspire, by the very act of of getting up to run, you have inspired countless of women, and even men, out there who need to live an active life style. So whether you are mother, wife, daughter, sister, lover... you inspire.

What I learnt from the run is that we both needed each other’s support throughout the run to breakdown mental barriers, to keep going. Having each other’s company helped and pushed each other. So I was able to get over my sorenesses that has plagued me the past several weeks and the give vent to to emotions I needed to release, and Pooja was able to push when her pace dropped, someone to keep her going. So we both needed each other, and together we did awesome.

Ok, so we didn’t get the timing we targeted for, but we sure had one hell of a run. I really hoped Pooja didn’t my craziness, which at time lead me to sing (in my croaking voice) and even mix up Christmas carols and make bad version of running carols.

So the weather was delightful and the run wasn’t frightful, as long as we maintained our pace, we got third, we got third, we got third (see bad, mad version of a carol).

So in the end was delighted and honoured and privileged to run with Pooja and to get a podium. And through her podium finish, got my podium experience. So it was nice way to end the racing year. Thank you buddy for the experience, and thank you to all the countless women who ran today, who run everyday.

Together we indeed did much more.

A Winter’s Rhymes

As the weather outside gets cold

It’s time for some hot chocolate and coco

To get into a huddle 

And for some nice warm cuddle

Time to roast marshmallows on the stove 

We may have not seen any snow

But that doesn’t stop us

From being a holly jolly soul

Cause we’ll go out carolling in the cold 

Finding ways to warm the body and soul

It’s time to bring on the sweaters

The hoodies and the pullovers

And should anyone point out weight

Blame it on the layers you wear

To keep the cold at bay

It’s time to gauge on good food

Cause we need the fats from the food

To keep the body warm in the cold

And the mind in a good mood

Though our joints may creek

And the bones and knees may pain

We will continue to go out 

And run in the cold weather 

Cause the weather perfect for a run

But then the weather makes you lazy 

And you’d rather be buried

Under layers of blankets

With a feathered pillow

And someone to cuddle all day long

So now that winter is here 

And weather is cold

Time to nurse your drinks

Whatever keeps you warm 

And enjoy winter’s cold

The Ballad of an Overthinker... if I may dare call it so

Hey overthinker

Don’t think so much

Life is not as complicated 

As you think it to be

You think too much

Often over and over 

Your overthinking won’t help you

Just leave you in a spot of mental torture 

Hey overthinker

Stop over analysing your situation

Life may not go your way

But let that not make you go a stray 

You are different and bit eccentric 

But by saying you’re not like they

Will not help with things go your way

So just go with the flow 

Let life surprise you

People are not all the same

And there’s no one to blame

It’s just your overthinking mind

Makes it difficult for you to manage the change

You’ve got to learn to go with the flow

Let life take you where it needs you to go

Savouring each moment of the way

Never rueing decisions and choices 

You have to make

There so much to see 

But your overthinking mind doesn’t let you be

There’s so much of life 

that needs to be experienced 

If only you set your mind free 

of your overthinking spree

So stop being an overthinker

And savour life 

Not everything needs to be over thought

Or even over analysed

Just let life surprise thee

And now stop overthinking 

The way you want to end

This verse on overthinking

And let things be 

The way it was meant to be

The Last Breath

He sat there watching her breathe, a struggle with every breath, an occasional sputter of cough. He knew this day would come, he knew it all would end, but now that it was upon him, he found himself numb, struggling to put a lid on his emotions. Ever since the first diagnosis and through the countless chemo sessions, he tried to steel himself for what was to come. But now that the moment had come he found himself lost. 

They say when the going gets tough the tough gets going, you find strength somehow especially when you needed it the most. So why wasn’t he feeling strong? Had strength deserted him in his hour of need? He felt helpless and hopeless not knowing what to do, to hapless to take decisions.

He felt a stab of guilt for having gone for a group run instead of being there with her. So there he sat, staring at her every breath. Her eyes emoting the pain she couldn’t speak of. He sat there by her side, trying to give her comfort, as comforting her was all he could muster himself to do. Hunger had deserted him. He just sat there by her side.

By evening her breathing grew heavier and more laboured. Her eyes glazed over. He knew the end was near, but what should he do? Just let her go or give it one last Short? And then he had the feeling of guilt and what would be people would say.

He managed to get a doctor to check on her, who just allied what he already feared. She was sinking and it would be any moment, admitting her to a hospital would only mean putting her on a ventilator and prolonging her pain. He didn’t want this for her, cause he knew she went through enough.

So after after paying the doctor’s fees and thanking him for his honest advice, he asked his mum and neighbour to rest as sat by her side. He felt she would fight through till his siblings arrived, cause they were her life. 

He sat by her side. The exertion of the day and the emotions began to weigh him down and grow heavy on his eyelids. He tried his best to fight it but in the end gave into it. 

It may have been only for a brief while that his eyes were shut, when he shook himself out of his daze. Something was  amiss. He realised it was all done. She was now in a better place. Fighting back tears and emotions. He kissed her gently on her forehead and said a silent goodbye, then looking up to the heavens he muttered a  thank you, and went to the bedroom to inform his mother.

Under the Moonlight Sky

They had met in the most unconventional of ways. He always wondered, of all the people how did they connect to each other? They had chatted a number of time, which at first seemed awkward and strange, but slowly began to feel welcome and comforting. They were two lonely souls finding solace in each other.

They had met before, at a mall, chatting at length about everything under the sun, about life, career, love, friendship, bitching about other members, about themselves, helping each other get over their loneliness. The bond that was formed when they connected only made them fonder of each other.

Today as they were meeting for dinner, he had this feeling, a feeling he had not felt in a while. How was it possible that he could feel this way about someone he only got to know a short while? There was still so much they needed to know about each other. But still he had that feeling, a longing, that he just couldn’t shake off or wouldn’t shake off.

Throughout dinner, they laughed and they they talked. Smiled and shared dishes. People in the restaurant would have easily mistaken them for a couple of lover birds, never knowing they were just friends. They discussed about love and heartbreaks, of expectations and if happily ever after existed.

All through dinner and the conversation he felt a warmth within him, which only grew warmer with each passing moment. He sat there staring at the face of person that sat in front and smiled almost awkwardly. How could he feel this attraction to this magnificent creature that sat in front of him? Would they reciprocate back this feeling that he felt inside, which could no longer hide. It all seemed so wrong but it felt so right.

Dinner was done and the bill was dutched. They decided to catch coffee at the nearest  coffee shop. So as they rode down silently, as their bellies were full, in the chill of the night breeze. He felt a hand enveloping his waist and a warm breath at the back of his neck. His heart fluttered and flipped a thousand times, and began to beat and burn with passion greater than any passion he had felt. 

He just stopped at the next turn  and got off and turned, only to find they were facing each other. He was afraid of what would or what could happen next. He was scared that he would be rejected, scared that he had read the signs all wrong, if he could read signs at all. But he had to take his chance, whether it felt wrong or right, it was now or never.

He slowly leant forward, with all the courage he could muster. To his surprise, his actions was mirrored. Without a warning, the dam that held them back just burst open and the passion that was burning inside them just began to flow.

Their lips met and parted, their tongues wrestled with each other. There was that familiar warmth, one that he had not felt or tasted in a while. Their arms enveloped each other, holding on to each other tightly, as if their life depended on it. They stopped and stared at each other. This really was happening. Unable to fight the pull they radiated, their lips once more met, but this time it was more than the lips  that were the recipient. The moonlight provide just enough light.

They were conscious of their surroundings and broke off at the first sign of life or any movement, only to reunite once again, like lovers having a clandestine meeting. They just couldn’t keep their hand or their lips from each other.

Finally they stopped and slowly smiled at each other, knowing what happened was special. They rode back in silence, in ashamed and glad, holding on to each other. They had taste of each and smell of each other.

Finally they reached the train station and it was time for one last embrace. They embraced passionately, stealing one final kiss, away from the prying eyes. They said goodbyes and good nights and parted ways. He stood staring as this beautiful creature as made its way back home. He stood there longingly with a feeling of bliss , glad he had met him and shared these beautiful moments, no matter what the world may say about it.

Inside an Upside Down

Once a cold winter morn, when the world lay fast asleep, a Runner slowly stirred. Groggily waking up from his slumber, he hauled his arse out of his bed. Marathon season was upon him and if he didn’t wake up he would miss on his mileage leaving him Ill-prepared.

So hastily he brushed his teeth, made and gulped down his black coffee (cause he needed a caffeine kick to jolt him out of his sleepy head). He quickly got dressed and laced up, grabbed his running belt and placed his water bottle, then his mobile and earphones, his watch, and off he went, down the stairs, trying to warm up and stretch.

Once warmed up and stretched, he cantered down the familiar path. But not before he switched on his watch and tracking app. 

The morning seemed like every winter morning he had experienced, when he had woken up for his runs. But at the back of his mind he had this nagging thought that something was different. There was something peculiar about this morning but he just couldn’t put a finger on it.

Out of nowhere, came a growl, first faintly but then began to get louder and sinister. Being a runner, he was used to being chased by dogs, but this didn’t sound like one. So he did what he did every time a dog came barking after him. He took a deep breath and tried to run calmly at the same pace.  

By this point, most dogs normally gave up and returned to the confines of their territory. But no this creature (cause something told him this was no dog). He could feel its breath at his ankles. So he did what he knew best, when flight set in, quickened his pace. But he just couldn’t shake the creature off his tail. This is when panic began to set and his heart began thumping against his chest. He had no intention of being bitten. 

But as he quickened his pace so did the creature. Now he could feel its warm drool, along with its warm breath. He was prepared, at any moment he would feel a searing pain as the creature would sink its teeth into his flesh. 

And then, as it had appeared, the creature disappeared. When he felt he was safe, he stopped to catch his breath. He looked around, first to check where the creature had gone, and then to get his bearing, where he was.

From the looks of things, the place seemed familiar but at the same time felt strange and unfamiliar. The weather was cold, but it was a cold filled with fear and dread. The place felt gloomy and dull, and the air felt heavy. Though it should have been dawn by now, there was no sign of sunlight, or for that matter, any sort of light. The place was dark, not too dark though, with the trees and ground covered with slime and moss and creepers. Something told him that he was not in his usual place any more.

So where was he? How did he get here? What was this place? So many questions racing through his mind, but he had no answer to any of them. 

He realised he had his mobile with him. But to his dismay, the battery was drained and the phone dead. He distinctly remembered charging it only the other night. So how could the battery drain so quickly? He glanced at his watch, and it too was showing no time at all. What strange was this?

Though it looked like the world he knew, it didn’t feel like the one he lived in. It felt strange and forebodings. Everything felt upside down, dark, sinister, alive. Something straight out of an episode of the Twilight Zone. 

Was it possible that he had stumbled upon a parallel dimension. This sounded too far fetched to be true. But everything screamed out of an alternate dimension. If this was true, how did he get here? How did he stumble upon this dimension? Was there a tear in time and space, a wrinkle which he had stumbled upon, and unknowingly traversed through it? Did the creature chase him through this wrinkle or tear, or whatever was it?

Everything felt unreal and scary. He fumbled trying to find his way, still hoping this was the world he knew. When all of a sudden he heard a cry, more like a howl in pain. It sounded like no animal that he had ever heard before. The sound sent a shiver down his spine, froze his blood, and still he was curious to know what it was.

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but this thought didn’t stop him from trying to locate the source of the sound. He set out in the direction from where he thought it came from. And he heard it again, each time it sounded more painful and scarier.

He stumbled his way through the darkness and the thick undergrowth till he reached the source of it all. When he reached the source he didn’t know what to make of it. What was in front of him couldn’t be categorised any of the animals that he had known. It looked like a dog but wasn’t one. It was more ferral, more raw, more dead in its appearance, almost like the zombie creatures you seen in the movies. It even gave a rotting stench. It’s leg was trapped in what appeared to be a trap. It seemed broken and that caused it to howl in pain, if you could call it howling.

Inspite of his fears, and a bit disgust, humanness overtook him. He inched closer to it, a bit hesitating, a bit apprehensive. As if if felt his presence, the creature looked at his direction, if you could call that a face, and snapped at him and clinched his teeth displaying razor sharp ones. He cautiously went behind it and tried to loosen it legs, or what was left of it, from the trap.

Suddenly there was a loud burst in the air. From the ensuing smoke, appeared a lady dressed in a red gown that seemed to be alive. She seemed royal but was also seemed like what nightmares were made of. A closer look at her gave you the chills. Along with her followed dozens of similar creatures.

“How dare you!” She billowed, “ How dare you hurt my baby. “ she said as she freed the creature who limped over to her, letting out yelp. “My poor baby”, she said, as she took the creature in her arm, stroking the back of its neck, trying to console it. “You are in so much pain, “ and without a warning she snapped the creature’s Head, letting its limp body slid to the ground.

This all caught him surprise and left him feeling numb and shaken. “Look at what you made you me do,” she hissed coldly, “You wicked and vile creature.” He tried to protest, but words failed him, he just opened his mouth, but no sound came from it. He wanted to run from this place, but somehow he felt frozen.

She gave him an icy cold stare that made his blood freeze. “This is murder, and any form of murder calls for blood. Blood for blood”, she said, almost in whispers, “children he harmed your sibling and time you avenged it. Off with his head.”

And without a warning, the pack at her feet, began to charged towards him. Fear took over and for a moment he felt disoriented, not knowing what to do. But then he went into flight mode, and with all the will he could summon, he pushed on.

By now adrenaline had kicked in and he ran with all his might trying to keep a safe distance from the chasing, howling pack. He couldn’t see where he was going. All he felt was fear and the sting of pain from the branches that scratched him. This was not the way he wanted to meet his end. Not here in this strange place, strange dimension.

Without a warning, the trees gave way, and he almost went over what looked like a ledge. He looked down and saw something that looked a lot like flowing water. He could hear them howl and snap as they came ever so closer. Should he jump or try find another way. But if he jumped there was no telling what was below, if he stayed and couldn’t find a way, he stood no chance against the creatures. He was caught between the rock and a had place.

In the end, he just jumped, just in time as they came crashing through the foliage. He could here them bark and snap from the ledge where he stood just a few seconds ago. He could feel his stomach flip, the feeling you get when you sit on a roller coaster.

Suddenly there was that feeling again. He felt like he was falling no more but running. He once again found himself on the trail he was running on before he was chased by the creature.

Though he felt like he had spent hours, if not a day, in that upside down, everything seemed the same. He checked his watch, which had begun working, as did his mobile, mobile. Was what he had just experienced real, or was it just a bad dream? He checked his hands and legs, where the branches had scratched him, but there was no marks to be found.

He made his way back to the start, looking over shoulder for any sight or sound of the creature, but there was none.  Once he got to the safety of his home, he quickly washed his face and assumed that it was all a bad dream, hoping he never returned to that dreadful place or see that dreadful woman and her creatures. 

But at the back of head a question burned through his mind. Who had set the trap that snared the creature? Who was brave enough to do that?