I left with whine,
Clouds over-glowing shine.
‘Tuscan chap, Do you know?
What you smudged,
As timid ants dangled over.
Stop this aimless toil.’
Monarch at Milan laughed boisterously,
This gleaming peasantry.

I pondered with winning smile.
Pitious reproach over their ignorance,
Over their loss of vision,lose grip.
Almigty you seen,
‘My one breath equals centuries.’

Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin, revolutionary great persons coincidently have gone through same chronological life events. Here are some facts. They were born on same day. Both were visionary, rebellious, stubborn orators. Both suffered failures most of the life and won at last. Darwin wrote ‘Theory of Evolution’, when Abraham Lincoln won Presidential election in US. Their lives have inspired past two centuries.

• Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln were born in the same year, on the same day: Feb. 12, 1809
• Both lost their mothers in early childhood
• Both suffered from depression
• Each had a strained relationship with his father and each of them lost children to early death
• Both “spent the better part of their 20s trying to settle on a career, and neither man gave much evidence of his future greatness until well into middle age: Darwin published “The Origin of Species” when he was 50, and Lincoln won the presidency a year later.”
• Darwin, “the man who would almost singlehandedly redefine biological science, started out as an amateur naturalist (yes, a Citizen Scientist!), a beetle collector. He became the very model of a modern major scientist without benefit of graduate school, grants or even much peer review.” Yet he created the theory of evolution: species evolve and the ones best adapted to their environment thrive and leave more offspring, crowding out the rest. He wrote “The Origin of Species” (this year marks the 150th anniversary of its publication) as if he’s talking to his citizen scientist friends. “He is never autocratic, never bullying. He’s also a good salesman. He knows that what he has to say will not only be troubling for a general reader to take but difficult to understand—so he works very hard not to lose his customer….generous, open-minded and always respectful of those who he knew would disagree with him.”
• Like Darwin, Lincoln was “not a quick study. Both men worked slowly to master a subject. But both had restless, hungry minds.” Lincoln taught himself trigonometry and “read Blackstone on his own to become a lawyer.” In 29 words, Lincoln defined the purpose of the war for the Union: “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” A man of conviction; one so great “it has been estimated that more books have been written about him than any other human being except Jesus.”

Source:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/143742/output/print

NY is getting green city within a decade. Initiative shown by Michael Bloomberg, current Mayor of NY in public speech.
If you see Manhattan skyscrapers. All skyrocketing building everywhere. See current situation of cities and other urban, sub-urban; there is no more place for trees. So, this seems bit challenging. US, unspoken superpower has everything after dominating Arabian energy sources.

NewYork City

Last year when roads bursting with presidency election campaigns, public interests were shown more towards energy conservation issue.
Barack Obama had also given speech like..”We will lead the world in “green” technologies to stop global warming. Advancing medical breakthroughs will improve our well-being, control health spending and enable us to expand insurance coverage. These investments in energy and healthcare, as well as education, will revive the economy and create millions of well-paying new jobs for middle-class Americans.’”

One lady from Ahamadabad is contesting against L.K.Adavani from Gandhinagar
constituency. Lets’ know who is she. Don’t get surprised..
1. Well-known Baratnatyam dancer in india
2. Daughter of indian Physicist Vikram Sarabhai, Father of indian space program.
3. MBA and a doctorate from IIM Ahmedabad(1974 batch)
(IIM-A established by her father Vikram Sarabhai)
4. Nominated as one among 1000 women for Nobel Peace Prize ,2005

Mallika Sarabhai

She played role of Drupadi in Peter Brook’s 9 hour movie Mahabharata*

Mallika has filed her nomination agains BJP’s PM-candidate lkadvani in symbolic style. She reached collector office holding bamboo basket full of currency notes. All money was collected from public contrbution. Mallika Sarabhai, her huge bindi, white salavar and colorfull dupatta. This money symbolizes  public participation into election.
“It will be better if more people come into politics—philosophers and intellectuals. I tell them this is your chance for clean politics. If you want to prove that this nation can be better, come join politics. Let us change it”, she told before nomination. Drum followed by Kite and harmonium is sign of her candidature.
It is being surprising fact about her that She being IIMA graduate, doesn’t have a car.

Let’s see what happens.

There websites for elections campaigns.
Mallika Sarabhai vs LK Advani
Wiki Links:
Mallika and Advani

Here are web albums of my friends from “Trekking Unlimited”:

1. Abhishek
2. Kshitij
3. Shardul

CHAPTER II

CONCERTO OF DELIVERANCE

Sun was bursting with heat. From morning I had not eaten other than pair of Puran Polis. After long trek, my throat was parched with some feeling of dehydration.One DT member asked me to get some water in the bottle. I went towards the stream of water, kept bottle aside and flushed my face with cold water.

I moved up my face. Perilous water droplets slided down the face. I looked towards my shoulders covered with pink shirt, wounded with Harnesses. I felt myself filled with energy. I paused a moment holding bislery. I took some moments for speedy brainstorming. Some invisible stimulation dumped out rubbish pessimism. I popped up from the place and thrashed my negative companion. I roared, “I am doing this with best possible and easiest manner. Only cowards leave the war ground.” I looked around. Whole remaining community was still eclipsed by fear. “See, this is one of the minor valleys in Maharashtra. There are so many mountaineers in the world who cross a lot more treacherous paths. This is just a simple one.” The moment, my FEAR turned into ANGER. “Why can’t I do this? Who says Elephant can’t dance?” I observed most of the fear had induced because of acrophobia. And to overcome this, I tricked not to turn back my face. “Good Idea!”

I ran towards tripod. One of my friends was in front of me. His body was shuddering, moving to and fro. No trace of smile over his face. He looked to me. I moved closer to him, patted his shoulder.

“Comm on man.! You can do Thhiss.. !”, I pressed.

“Thanks.” He smiled with encouragement. I seen, He didn’t find any difficulty while rappelling.

Rappelling

After five minutes, Ajay asked me to come. I went to him. He pushed the rope into Steel anchor. “Now, I am ready.” I felt most of the synergy contracted within me. I was feeling lot heavier than last moment.” I recalled all the rules, “One.- Legs perpendicular to surface, Two- Knees unbent, 3- Draw the weight downward.” I was doing right. To remove the friction between rock and rope, one mat was kept floated from the edges. I moved back my one leg over the mat. “Yes. Right!”  I listened loud comment from up.  “one-two-one-two….one-two” I was moving down the valley. I avoided looking back intentionally. I did ‘feeding’ with left hand, pushed up the rope as much as possible. I hold the slider with right hand and started feeding again. One moment. “one-two one- two.” And left leg slipped from rock. “Oops..!”  Rock ended and my downward velocity started growing. No sooner did I understand what is going on, gravity captured everything and whole body accelerated down the valley. Temperature of slider was growing. It was because of friction between rope and metal. I could observe the smell of burning cloth coming out of right hand gloze. “Its deepest ‘hangover’.” I could conjecture the remaining dept below. “Now wanted to slow down” So, I stopped feeding the rope. But no response. Gravity had taken over everything. I was falling deep abyss. No co-efficient of restitution here. Only free fall. But after some seconds velocity reduced and whole body hanged up. Electric fork of retardation passed though. “Ooh..hhn” I shocked. Cold breezes were blowing. Body moved like pendulum. So I felt elated. I thought I need to relax for a moment. I took a deep breath. Rope slipped from slider slowly. I came to know that I was caught inside one mid air waterfall. Some cold water showered over my face. No sooner did I imagine more, body took one rotation in the air. “I wanted to stay here inside” I was able to hear echoes of some human voice coming up from downward direction.   Someone was shouting from the unfathomable depth. I dared to look back. “Oh..Wahh..!” I was able to see the whole elegance of god’s creation. Magnificent valley was glowing with green-brown radiance. Some ant sized people waving hands to me from down. I couldn’t control over it. I am going to complete the first patch now. DT people were shouting how to slow down.

I was coming down the valley slowly. I stopped feeding the rope. Vertical path tilted and turned bit horizontal. Yahoo..! This Moment, I started enjoying the tour. In childhood, I read stories from ‘Arabian Nights.’ Similar to Magical mat that float in sky, I was sliding down the altitude gradually. Ecstasy of floating in the sky had no bounds.

Within I moment I arrived place where DT people were waiting holding other end of rope. I tried to stand over my legs. “At last I completed first path of first day successfully!” Body was fatigued by feeding the rope.

Whole team climbed down similar to me. After getting idea of one real time rappelling, I found it much pleasure some and enjoyable than adventure. Next two patches were smaller than the first.

Team took rest after coming down three patches.

Preface:

I wrote this travelogue in number of posts. Purpose of writing is that it may help newbie mountaineers further. I got subject good subject and opportunity with Article competition announced. I didn’t have high resolution camera to snap good quality pictures. I tried to ink down everything I observed during the trek. Words are made more enjoyable for fun reading.

Words may be more exaggerated than real experience.

CHAPTER I

ANARCHY OF FEAR

Now bus had left Pune City. Glows and glitter of big shopping malls, movie theater like Pune Central, Big Bazzar, E-Square had vanished. Bus started running towards destination cutting the chilly winds and growing darkness. Team ‘Trekking Unlimited’ enjoyed Entakshari for some time and slept deeply. Silence was broken when one dog started barking in direction of bus. I opened eyes assuming we must have reached. Bus entered into one village where there was no electricity. I tucked through window. Closed doors and windows of huts, houses were flashed by headlights of our bus. Houses were built with hand made bricks and colored with lime. After staggering some distance though the village, bus stopped in front of school. There we are told to get up.

I came out of the bus. I saw 1.30 am into my watch. Even it was time of midnight. Stars were not much visible. Sky seemed to be cloudy. Mid-night was wholly captured by darkness and cold winds. I could just see dark shades of mountains spread around the horizons.

We entered into narrow verandah of the village school after jumping five feet wall. Everyone rolled out their mats. I slept wearing sweater to protect from chilly breezes flowing over.

My sound sleep broke by the mobile alarm of one guy besides me. It was 5.30 am. Dhumketu Treckers team found to be arrived. There was till darkness in the atmosphere. We packed our bags. There were no washrooms as well as latrines. Then, today all had to do morning duties in open environment. I took my Bislery bottle and walked some distance towards open farm.I could see two flashes of torches where other two other people were squatted. I did the same.

Within half an hour we all packed up our bags. Team moved toward one tea-shop on the Kalyan Road One edge of mountain found glowing red. Colors scattered around the sky gradually. We are given a tea biscuits and pack of two Puran polis(Maharastrian food, It is my favorite cuisine). All people brushed teeth and washed face using the bore well water besides that shop.

We gathered in front of Tea-shop where we were given instructions for the first time. One person from Dhumketu Treckers(DT), Shree came ahead to give some instructions.

He started,” We all here for Rappelling adventure. This event is not individual performance, but every one’s co-operation is necessary. One mistake may cause disaster to whole event. We expect you enjoy this event following all instructions given by us.” He handed over this speech to Cybage HR Harshada who was going to lead the team from Cybage. She continued the speech “Please, cooperate DT by following instructions given by them and let this event happen in most enjoyable way.’

Shree asked, “Is there anyone who has done rappelling previously?”

No one dared to answer. “If anyone has done it previously, he can tell his experience. It would help other to get the idea about rappelling.”

Tushar from our team came up and gave general idea about the rappelling. After having general instructions we crossed the road, and started trek. This was like pre-rappelling session! It was a warm up for the adventure. Team welcomed by awesome arc of rain-bow. Two ends of it were gripped into horizons. Some of us savedThese ephemeral colors into cameras. One of us tried to show rain-bow caught in hand in his snap. This is called creativity! We were divided within some groups leading towards the mountain, where we would start rappelling. I liked to be with the first group with Two People, These were DT team members. One girl walking with me said me that she done Rappelling two times before here. She told her name as ‘Bhavana’. I started firing questions about rappelling, ‘who..? where ? why ? everything about the trek.’

She supported me, “Don’t worry. We are here to look after every thing”

I felt relief thinking she will be with me to guide during the trek.

Our group was moving toward the range of Sahyadri. Gradually rising sun turned more and more bright and heat become unbearable. Now, facing the sun was impossible. On the way knee high meadows allured me to lye over it and take a fantastic snap. Sturdy bushes and plants most clinging to rock or hard soil. Beauty of forestry and splendor of green meadow had vanished because of lack of water. Crops were not cultivated in such barren infertile land. Moving through ups and downs, we reached the place, where we told to ‘STOP’. Danger Zone! This was the place from which we will start rappelling.

I found, we had reached highest point on this mountain. Here deep valley starts! Magnificence of valley is visible at this point. Little rivulet found passing through a rocky channel. Pellucid water finding way through various sized stones to fall from the highest point. Looking towards this transparency, Thirst multiplied hundred times. I drank handful of water from this stream. It had a taste of calcium. A single rock was spread widely. Volcanic eruption must have occurred sometime past there. Some holes are generated on the flat rocky surface. These were looking as if open-mouthed pots fixed on the ground. At this gorgeous spot, all took snaps with various backgrounds with various directions. One guy stretched himself over the rock, hands and legs as apart as possible like dead body from ‘Da Vinci Code’ with different sings scattered around.

Tripod

One rope was fixed between both sides of stream. Different colored belts with metallic rectangular locks were hanged on the rope. On the edge of this valley, DT team was making arrangement for rappelling. Tripod was built with ‘four’ wooden poles! These were firmly fixed on ground. Two ropes passed over it. One end wound around one biggest heavy boulder besides and other end went down the valley. Some DT team members climbed down the valley. It was not visible where they went. I was bit curious to feel the dept of valley with hidden terror in mind. I tried to crawl little ahead. But Bhavana warned to stay away from the line of Control.

We are told to gather on the rocky slope. Shree was going to show demonstration of rappelling. He told us to remain silent for couple of minutes as tribute to the people died in Mumbai blast.

He explained, “If we become conscious about happenings around us, such events can be avoided. Here we are forty people. Awareness of thousands of people can fight and protect us from terrorism. If any one found suspicious activity, he will mail to us, news will spread all around and help will be provided quickly.”

After he continued to teach some mostly practiced ‘DOES and DONT’s about rappelling.

“When you start to climb down the mountain, your body must be perpendicular to the ridge. Wide distance must be kept within legs. Legs must not bend from knees. If you reduce the distance between legs, little wind can tilt your body and your head will hit the flank. Next moment you may not be identifiable to anyone. You seen, cartoon avatars can deform their body after bouncing anywhere. But human body once lost its size, nothing will help.”

My terror was growing. But I was listening to him carefully. So, No mistake should happen from me.

Bhavana armed with belt and metallic frame came up with hand glozes. She opened anchors and pushed rope inside one circle of eight-shaped anchor. Then pushed this anchor in another steel frame fixed to her waist.

“Now, here will be simple demo of rappelling. Bhavana had worn harnesses but not hand glozes yet. She did it intentionally.” That moment, I come to know these belts are called as ‘harnesses’.

‘Bhavana had done rappelling previously and she will show you how to rappel over the mountain. All people watched this demo carefully.”

After this demonstration, Team worn harnesses and hand glozes. Ajay, Tushar and two other DT people helped all to do it.

There were two sides from which rappelling started. Other one was at little higher position than my side. One by one person was moving to the tripod, waist was bolted with rope and he was sent down. I was not able to see clearly what was going on. As people in my team were reducing. I pushed myself towards the tripod.

Ajay Dhane was bolting the rope to the frame and was allowing each one let down the valley. It was not visible where were these are going, but the dept of valley threatened me lot. I was preparing hard to remove acrophobia from mind. I pushed my body little ahead to see what is going on. I seen one boy moved towards tripod. His face, which was smiling on the way, had turned red. Whole body was grasped by terror. He was told to move back. But he did opposite. He pushed ahead. I looked other side also. All people were overcastted with fear of death.

Moment by moment group size was reducing. I let other guys to move ahead. I was trying to avoid my number. But At last it was my turn. “No. I don’t want to die. I want to live”, I said myself. I remembered my parents. I hold locket in my hands for a moment. I closed my eyes and prayed my god. I always told my mummy every little bit stuff in my life. But this time I had not asked about this event. If I would told about this, she would never allow me to fall into such dangers. My heartbeats were growing. I asked myself, “Why do you dare to do this? Is your life too cheap? What are you really going to achieve by this adventure? Are you going to do any world record.. No. Isn’t it?” At this moment I repenting for one think repeatedly that I didn’t have my insurance.’ These people took risk form with clear signature below the page telling No one will be responsible for any injury or accident during this event. Now, what do I do? Shall I deny climbing down?”

“No, Umesh. STOP wherever you are”, someone murmured from deep inside my nerves. “First time in life, you started earning before three months back when you joined Cybage. This is start of your professional life. But here what are you going to achieve. Nothhing.! Those people trying to climb down the mountain didn’t have purpose in life. These people never going to understand futility of such ventures. Are you getting me.”

“Yes” I was feeling my second soul is right. Its negotiation had right justification.

“Then why do you dare to fall into such worthless endeavor? You need to do so many great things in life. And this moment you are trying to quit. So, don’t move ahead.” “Yes, man you are right.”

It was difficult to ponder over fact that my life will be hold by this silly rope!

“If any one doesn’t move back, Push his body and throw him down”, One of the DT members told Ajay. And my terror crossed the limit.”

]]> http://umeshpatil.wordpress.com/2008/12/26/verticle-resolution/feed/ 0 john tripod http://umeshpatil.wordpress.com/2008/12/26/history-and-purpose-about-next-travelogue/ http://umeshpatil.wordpress.com/2008/12/26/history-and-purpose-about-next-travelogue/#comments Fri, 26 Dec 2008 03:54:36 +0000 umeshpatil http://umeshpatil.wordpress.com/?p=112 ]]>

After joinging Cybage I didn’t find any good subject for writing. This is long pause for writing. I wrote next blog after doing Trekking mission with ‘Dhumketu Trekkers’. I have made this travelogue more enjoyable than real.

As it is bit longer article, I wrote them in number of chapters.  Added flickr photos may help to get much pictorial view of Rappelling.

I was studying xmls to create dynamically changing db. I studied to different types of parsers which helped to retrive the information. But which parser to use..? I confused. It depends upon the application we prefere. I copied the difference between them here.

          June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than full victory.”