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.