Destination – Egypt

Every student of history always finds studying about the Egyptian civilisation very interesting. The land of Pharos, mummies and pyramids held us all in a trance during lectures in college. Just imagine the excitement I must have felt when I actually had a chance of visit the Pyramids. The Suez Canal is an important canal for vessels, connecting the Red Sea with the Mediterranean and drastically reducing distances and time taken by ships to cross over. The canal length is around 193 kms and usually takes between 11- 16 hours to transit. The vessels move in a single-line convoy with a halt at the Bitter Lake to continue onwards. The northbound – southbound convoys are meticulously planned and work with clockwork precision.

Though not as exciting as transiting the Bosphorous, the Suez Canal is a marvel in itself. It’s  a slow transit, with dessert and barracks lining up the view on either side . An interesting aspect of the transit, was the setting up of souvenir sellers on board our ships. These guys board the ship almost around the same time the pilot comes on board and before you knew it, the dining/ tv deck became a little Egyptian bazaar. They would be there the entire time of transit on board and our little alleyway or if we allocated them a designated area, became lined with papyrus paintings, jewellery boxes, couches, plates with Tutankhamun and Cleopatra all over. Over time, I started looking forward to these guys on board, as it provided a change in atmosphere on board and a chance for me to pick up knick knacks for the people back home.

A highlight of one particular trip to the Suez was a chance to get off at the Bitter Lake while we had an overnight halt to continue our convoy. The captain managed to arrange a boat for a few of us and I managed to get a day to visit the Pyramids and Cairo. It was like I was living the dream of every history student in my class. Visiting the pyramids is like visiting the Holy Grail of history.  All my lessons flashed  in front of me. It was quite a long drive to Giza and then out in the distance, there they were.. giant, majestic and a perfect example of symmetry in monuments… the great Pyramid of Giza also known as the Pyramid of Khufu. The enormity of size doesn’t really hit you until you are up and close to them. Huge is not even a word to describe it. There are two other, slightly smaller Pyramids – Khafre and Menkaure. Of course, over time and with extensive plundering by robbers during the ancient and medieval times, a lot may have changed in the external façade and internal loot but nonetheless that it did not stop me from being awe-struck. For a few minutes, we simply walked around the structures, me for once not saying much other than Wow ! Then the guide asked us, do you want to go inside ? Did we ever ? Yess… lets go … !!! So we climbed up a bit through the rubble and entered a long and narrow passage. It was exciting beyond words. We started walking down the passage, full length first, slowly slouching a bit, then a little more, then a little more, then all fours crawling down and finally almost flat. The passage seemed to get narrower, darker, scarier, definitely the air was less, and then ….. we are into the burial chamber of the King Khufru. For that moment, I felt what an archaeologist must have felt to discover that tomb. A tiny granite sarcophagus was all that lay in front of us with a candle for light .. how that candle burned beats me to this day, since I had a tough time breathing with the limited oxygen available.

We saw the sarcophagus with the mummy inside … it was like going back into the beginning of time. We spent about 5 minutes there and crawled our way out of the tunnel. History aside, what a relief to breathe freely. Next stop was the Sphinx. Face of a man and body of a lion, it’s almost as if the Sphinx stands guard of the Great Pyramid. A few customary photos with Sphinx and we were on our way. A quick stop to an itr-factory – aroma scents and then through the hustle and bustle of Cairo city to the pier on get on board a cruise down the Nile with a belly dancer. Could that day get any better ?  We missed out visiting the museum at Cairo where the remains of Tutankhamun are preserved due to the Cairo traffic and the boys were so kicked about watching the belly dancer !!! The cruise was nice and of course, the belly dancer was better given the loud cat calls, whistles and cheers she got !! She obliged the 5 boys ( overgrown men ) I was with – danced and jiggled with them and happily clicked photographs with them.

With the warm breeze of the Nile on our face, we ended a very long day in Cairo with every minute being worth it. We got back on board and a few hours later, set sail with the convoy on our way to Ukraine. I only wish I had more time to visit Luxor - the Valley of Kings and Aswan.. that would have truly completed my historical journey around Egypt. But that remains pending for another time.

A country is known by its history and Egypt is no less. They take pride in the Pharos, queen Cleopatra, the pyramids and the sphinx.  Visiting this place, reminded me how much I wanted to be an archaeologist and made me fall in love with my favourite subject again.

Hyderabad calling ...travelling for the love of running

Recently, someone mentioned on the social networking platform if I was running out of ideas to write about. It’s not easy to be constantly writing about something, no matter how much I may like it. A day has multiple variations and priorities, almost like being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.In the midst of juggling between home - work balance, the running season is about to kick start in Delhi/NCR. One corner of the white board on my office desk is lined up with the list of events I have registered for. The one coming up in two weeks, is the Airtel Hyderabad Half Marathon on the 27-28 August weekend.

The Airtel Hyderabad Half Marathon holds a special memory for me. It was where I completed my first Half Marathon in 2014. I had never been to Hyderabad but the adventurous side of me took over and I booked my flights, stay and off I went. From whatever little I saw of Hyderabad, it seemed a lovely city. Sometimes, travelling for a run, is similar to travelling for a business meeting. One reaches a day before, usually to go to the expo to collect the bib, mingle around if you know people and then rest up for the run the next day. Sightseeing or gorging on local cuisines is not quite on the agenda. 

In 2014, I was new to running and I went and simply collected my bib. I knew Arun Bhardwaj was doing 24 hours on the treadmill there, so I made sure that I went up and met him. Till before the Mashobra run in June 2014, I didn't know who Arun Bhardwaj was. It was there that we were introduced and I got to know a little more about him and his phenomenal achivements.Till today, I am eternally grateful to Arun, for walking and talking the gruelling last 7-10 kms of the killer Mashobra trail with me. We trudged along slowly, talking about life, running and the universe interspersed with stretches for the knee which refused to walk with me. We kept it touch and it was natural to go meet him. 

Hyderabad 2014 was a good run; I felt good the whole way of those 21.097 kms. It is called the toughest city Marathon and there is no doubt why. The flyovers are long and long and still longer and with no shade throughout the way coupled with the killing humidity, it's not an easy run to do. I walked-ran-walked-ran and finished the run. The race takes you along the arteries of Hyderabad and the atmosphere is simply fantastic. The crowd is cheery, loud and everything is wonderfully organized. 

Coach Ravinder Singh once mentioned in a post that it's easy to do the 21kms of a half; it's the .097 which is the toughest and I couldn't agree more. With every reserve I finished the Hyderabad HM and what a delight it was to see Arun at the finish line. The high five at the finish with him and the medal, are moments to treasure for a lifetime.

I am walking and running at least 4 - 5 kms a day with the usual stretches. With the humidity peaking, energy levels are down with excessive sweating. I am also enjoying the feel of the Ascis. It has been money well spent. My feet don't feel fatigued and even throughout the walk it's quite a nice feeling in them. 

Runners are a crazy lot. We travel far and wide, over and across to take part in a run. Running and travelling become so integrated for us that sometimes it's hard to differentiate between the two. But then, what better vacation for me than to pack my bags, wear my sneakers and put on my headphones and catch up on reading while on the move. It’s like the genie giving me all my wishes together. 

Hyderabad is calling once again.... I am hoping it's a good run with some sightseeing or local biryani mixed in this time.  

Istanbul- one of my favourite cities in the world

Every time I heard Istanbul, I had varied images going through my mind. I imagined it like this magical place on earth with Aladin flying over with his magic carpet. I imagined it as a bridge between Asia and Europe separated only by the lovely Bosphorous. I imagined it as a busy market place, a melting pot of cultures, cuisines, of cobbled pathways leading to pottery makers, carpet weavers and more history than I could possible fathom. Istanbul is all this and so much more. As a student of history, Istanbul always came up. It was known was Byzantium when it was founded and then came to be known as Constantinople during the Roman and Ottoman empire. Istanbul has always enjoyed a prominent place in the history, geography and economics of the world due to it’s strategic location. It is divided by the straits of Bosphorous, which is the only sea route between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea  and I have been lucky to do this passage 6 times while sailing.

My love affair with Istanbul began in 2004 on my first time on board. Always fond of ocean passages and geography, I keenly observed the passage planning to a particular port and this was no less. Our first transit was at 04:00 a.m. Woken up from slumber, I staggered along the deck to take in the views. And my goodness, I was speechless. It was the most beautiful city I had seen at the break of dawn.. with lights, cafes, laughter, music and just the enormity of looking on the left, thinking wow, that’s Europe and looking on the right and thinking, wow that’s Asia. The passage lasted an hour and so and I sat riveted absorbing everything I could see and beyond.

The transit on the way back was just as breath-taking – this is time in the lovely afternoon sun with clear blue skies and the slight nip in the air. The black sea actually looks black and it’s very depressing to see the view… the slow sailing from the Black to the blue of the Sea of Marmara and the Mediterranean was like witnessing a painter at work. The flow of colours shifted from dark and intense, almost melancholic black to blending of black and blue and finally a brilliant shade of blue, full of life  and vibrancy.Spotting dolphins jumping out and racing along with our ship only added to my adventures.

I visited a small port called Bandirma – a transit between Istanbul and Izmir. I like to enjoy a city on foot, walking through the streets and getting lost, only to find a new way. Bandirma gave me all this. Off the gangway, I was into the city. The biggest pain then was the currency with the Lira being in millions and billions it was quite a headache for me. But I managed. And I walked, and walked, and walked. Through cobbled alleyways I actually found carpet weavers, bazaar lined with spices, hand painted Turkish tea cups and plates and realised that most cities with bazaars are like Delhi – bargain and bargain some more. I made friends with some port officials who actually introduced me to Turkish Red Tea – which is a strong and potent dose of tea and actually red in colour, much like the expresso shot of coffee. Izmir was a short distance away but as anyone who has sailed on gas carriers knows, port stay time is very less and turnarounds are fast ..commercial pressures !! So Izmir was left for another day.

I managed to get a days’ time at Istanbul and I made full use of it. I visited the Blue Mosque – called so because of the hand painted blue tiles on the interior walls of the Mosque. It is one of the few Mosques with six minarets and is bathed in beautiful natural light streaming in through stained glass windows. Next stop was the Topkapi Palace – and what a palace. Words cannot do justice. Its seeped in history and culture and every step and every wall gave me the goose bumps. Perhaps the Imperial Treasury room was a favourite with spoils from wars and gifts – diamonds, emeralds, gold and rubies ..

A visit to Istanbul would have been incomplete without a visit to the Grand Bazaar – with it being everything I saw in the movies in which Istanbul and it's bazaar's lined with shops and merchants were shown, it was the perfect icing to the good visit. Shops, shops and more shops with everything being the flavour of Turkey and the melting pot of a cross cultural city coming to the fore. It was like a scene right out of one the Humphrey Bogart classics for me. Their love for blue came forth in paintings done on plates, saucers, glasses, tea cups and even hair clips for women.

The Asian side of Istanbul is a full load of history, monuments, local bazaars, spice markets and is like going back into time. The Western side, is Europe as we know it – with the latest designer brands,coffee shops and the high life. There is a quaint charm and nostalgia when you walk down the Asian side; there is a spring the step and a sense of being with the times when on the European side.  A sail down the Bosporus one can take in all the wonders including the most amazing water front houses ,rather mansions, I have ever seen. 

I have been up and awake every transit of the Bosphorous we did and every time the feeling was like falling in love all over again. 

Istanbul isn't just any city that you visit. Istanbul is a love story that never ends.

Of Pb’s and Tom-Tom’s – I have neither ( yet !!!!)

A common heard line in the running fraternity is “What’s your PB ? “ Now to those not much into running, PB means personal best – your personal best time of completing a run whether a full, half, 10k or 5K.  Having done about 8 half marathon’s, 2 trail runs and 3 10 kms run’s, I still don’t have a PB. Now these days that’s the closest I can get to committing sacrilege. Why ? Because, I don’t run keeping a tab on the time. When I go for an event, I have one target – to finish the run. Run if I can, walk if I have to and crawl and limp if I must .. but finish it. It’s like my conquering my own Everest – again and again ! And there is no better feeling each time. 

I started running to lose weight and get fitter. I look better at my age and with two kids, than most women I know. I love the fact that I am physically active and agile. I would rather be sun-tanned running and swimming than caught dead wearing make-up. Of course, each to his own and what works for some doesn’t work for me. When I go for a walk or run, I do switch on my fitness app to know my pace of walking /running or distance covered and in what time. When I go for an event, I don’t. I go there to enjoy myself.  The only thing I observe is the km markers laid out across the track to know how much I have done and how much more to go. 

I don’t even have a smart watch – there are many brands in the market but I wear my basic watch and run which just tells me the time. Of course, I do my have phone with the music plugged in and for the customary selfie after finishing the run. But that’s about it. Till 15 days back, I wore my every sneakers and ran. I gathered my courage and bought myself a pair of Asics to run as an investment to avoid injuries while running. Of course, the run and the feel of using an Asics is very different and I feel it’s money well spent.  

When running for Pb’s with all the latest gadgets and gizmo’s we forget one basic thing – to enjoy the simple joy of running. Recently at the Mashobra Ultra, while trekking up the trail, I saw a fellow runner collapsed due to severe cramps. A few sips of water and stretches, he decided he wanted to continue.  Now anyone who has done Mashobra,  knows that the trail as lovely as it is downhill till the waterfall at Moolkoti, it is a killer uphill. We walked and talked, slowly without a rush. All the time the gentleman telling me, ‘mam, please carry on …you will ruin your time.. I will manage. ‘ Now, how can you leave someone knowing they aren’t ok …without nothing beyond for miles, with no one behind for kilometres. We trekked along till water station and a little beyond when finally he decided ( and good for him too!) that he would not carry on.  He reached base camp and recovered well and I met him on the way back, heading back to Shimla. He sent me a lovely message after that full of gratitude and kindness. Now isn’t that worth so much than a personal best time !!!!

How about forgetting about Pb’s for one run ? How about switching off the smart watches for a run ? In the end, no one will remember your times other than you. What people will remember is your act of kindness, of giving up your goal to help someone achieve theirs. That said, I am working towards my PB and someday a smartwatch as well .. after all, there’s no harm being a little selfish. 

A self-conscious sports freak

I have always been enthusiastic about sports – be it playing or observing. Growing up I was always one of the boys. I would rather play basketball with the boys than sit and gossip with the girls. I was always the sneaker girl rather than the high-heels petite damsel in distress. I have been swimming since I was 8 years old. I’ve done rafting, parasailing, paragliding, tennis, basketball, horse-riding and even a mudslinging football game in the rains. Even on the ship, whichever ocean, sea or strait we were sailing on, I would be down at 1700 hours and would do a brisk walk for 45 mins to an hour. Post dinner, would usually be table tennis. But my greatest achievements have come from running. Post two pregnancies, I wanted to get back into shape and started with brisk walks of 45 minutes. Swimming and running are on top of my list for either training, or losing weight or for just kicking ass on a bad day !

Despite being enthusiastic about sports, I never participated in anything during school or college.. I have a severe problem - stage phobia. I get uncomfortable when I feel people have their eyes on me. Till today, I cannot eat a meal alone at a food court or even at Mcd's. I am my most creative and happiest, when no one watches me. I found that refuge in walking and running. I walk alone and I have my reasons for it. For me, it’s like going into a trance. I am oblivious to everyone and everything except my music. I love to turn up the volume and block out everything. When I signed up for my first run - the ADHM 2013 ( Airtel Delhi Half Marathon ), I remember getting up and getting ready but then I froze. I felt that everyone would be watching me. I had no idea what to expect and I was not even trained. I did not go that year and for the first time I felt I had let down myself. It was then that I got a bit serious towards training and went in May 2014 to Banglore for the TCS World 10K - my first event. I got a taste and feel of the event... How everyone is oblivious to me also !!!! Which worked very well for me. 

I have taken part in many running events since then with intermittent breaks. I love going for them. I am one amongst the crowd and even if I know many people at event, I go, I run, I get my medal and I drive back home. It's very rare to see many pictures of me at an event because I don't go in a group, no group selfies and no running group that I am associated with. I am trying to change this little by little though it's not easy. Swimming again gives me this ' being alone in the crowd ' kind of feeling. I am a water baby .. leave me in a pool for ages and I will be happiest ( throw in some beers as well !!!!).  I tried a new thing in Goa this year - swimming in the sea and I loved it. 

Sports is not just something I watch on TV or play every now and then. Sports is a life style I have. It's a part of my day. Be it swimming or running or gymming I need something to do everyday. The days I don't run or walk I feel every joint aching, every muscle sore and you will not even believe just how irritable I can be !!!!!!!  It helps me breathe!!! It helps me live !!!

Born to travel ….

“Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport – Unknown.”  I think my love affair with travelling the world began when I was 06 months old. My father got an opportunity to travel to Ireland with my mother and me in tow. I was barely turning on my tummy and we headed to Ireland and England in the harsh winters. It was harsh because thanks to tradition my head full of curly hair was shaved off and a bald me went straight from the Madurai to Delhi to Ireland. Of course, I was too young to remember anything but a lot of stories told by dad and mom over drinks and photographs have been vivid enough for me to imagine myself as a bottle fed, sitting in the pram, chubby infant. I think the first four years of my life I was in and out of the country – travelling to Ireland, England and finally to Tasmania, Australia. 

My love affair with sailing also began in Ireland. My dad often mentions that we were sailing to Isle of Man in rough seas and while everyone was throwing up, I was enjoying the rocking and rolling. Of course, babies don’t feel seasick. Fast forward to 2004 and I was a 26 year old,  on board a ship with my husband, throwing up all over the place. But that’s for another day.

For some reason, every time the story of sailing on the Irish Sea comes up, I have this vivid picture of me sucking my thumb, lying in a basket!!! From Ireland, it was to England. We stayed at Lake District. I have boxes full of pictures of me in a pram in picturesque gardens during some picnics, of walking with my mother (who by the way was quite the fashion diva with a short bob, A-line skirts and pencil heels !!!) and surrounded by pigeons at Old Trafford. Of course, with dad being actively into cricket at the time it was only natural that I be baptised at a cricket stadium or on a cricket pitch!!

Australia – I remember a bit more of being here. My aunt, uncle and cousins had come visiting. I remember jumping on a trampoline kind of bed with my sister, my grandmother and the three of us going to the beach and making sand castles. My dad had his prized Toyota Falcon with his name on the side, which eventually my mother banged into the gas station while learning how to drive. My dad and me didn’t have any injuries though my mom broke six ribs. I did my pre-school in Australia, and I remember my dad making me jump across the fence. Yea, the school and our home shared the boundary wall.

After four years of hopping around, we came back in 1982. After that the travelling was in India- with parents to my dad’s favourite hill station, Mussorie. With my school friends to Shimla and Kasauli. I think that’s where my love affair with Shimla began. While in college to Nainital. After that to Lucknow, Jaipur, Agra, Sariska, Mashobra, Udaipur, Kanpur, Rishikesh, Dhanaulti, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Goa, Bhuwaneshwar, Konark, Puri, Chennai, Madurai, Bikaner, Ranthambore…. and this is just India. International adventures began after getting married to a sailor!!!!

To quote Ibn Battuta “Travelling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” Each place has my own stories, adventures, experiences and memories. And yet, there are many more miles to travel and places to see, before I sleep. 

To imagine a life without music …

To know me, is to know that music is woven into my very existence. I cannot imagine a moment of life without music. My taste in music is eclectic – ranging from rock, pop, classics, Hindi, EDM ..I can literally listen to anything and any artist – The Eagles, Dire Straits, Bryan Adams, Taylor Swift, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Calvin Harris…whew ! The list is exhaustive. There are very few moments in the day when I am without music. There are some songs which can forever be on repeat – Hotel California by The Eagles, Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits, Summer of ’69 by Bryan Adams and of course, God himself, Michael Jackson. Of course these are like the cherries on the cake and believe me, that cake is HUGE !!! I am not the kinds who likes to watch a movie during a flight, unless there’s one from my own personal top 100 movies of all times …I prefer to put on the headphones and switch on the music. Of course, one is spoilt for choice on a good airlines with their playlist. Most airlines have an option to create their own playlist. I painstakingly hunt through all of them and compile my own countdown.

My mood is always reflected in the music that I play. For workouts/ running it will always be fast and thumping -EDM being a personal favourite. While driving, it could be just about anything. For an evening at home, when the kids and me have moments of peace, I love to switch on rock. I have lost track of the number of times I have fallen asleep listening to Mozart, Vivaldi and Beethoven and trust me, I have never slept better. In fact, when my daughter was born her doctor used to play music in the nursery as she said it helps in the development of the brain. So once she got back home, even then, we would continue this.

One of the highlights of my travel through the Bosphorus in Istanbul, was listening to the music playing at 4 a.m. in the cafes.. We were sailing via the Bosphorus to enter the Black Sea, heading to Yuhzny, Ukraine. I was up at 03:30 a.m. to make sure I didn’t miss a minute of the beautiful transit. It still remains as one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen ! I distinctly remember seeing few cafes full of life and laughter ( yes you are so close to the city that one can actually read the car number plates and hear loud laughter ) and the music playing. What a serene moment that was ..starry skies, moonlight, cafes and music…

Anyone closely associated with me knows that for me God exists in the form of Michael Jackson. I literally worshiped the ground he walked on. My house doesn’t have paintings hanging. What adorn the walls are a framed cushion cover with a Michael Jackson autograph and huge poster of the ‘Moonwalk’. The sound levels go up many decibels’ when Beat It or Billie Jean come on, his concerts are recorded and watched over and over again when there is nothing else to watch and MJ is the common bonding factor between me and my brother.  For me there is no greater entertainer, dancer, musician or a person who can create the kind of mass hysteria that MJ did. Elvis does come close, though ! Thankfully I never attended any of his concerts… I see myself as one of those many girls who fainted and had to be carried out !!!!!!!!

Through all my life – whether trying to clear the maths exam or getting over the pain of losing someone, I have always had my music close. From my Walkman to my CD player to the Ipod to 600 songs on my phone, I am never more than a touch away from it. Taylor Swift echoes my sentiments perfectly “People haven’t always been there for me but music always has.”

Here's to starting something new !!!

02 Aug 2016 - 

For a long time now I have been penning down feelings, thoughts and my experiences. To switch from the pen to the keyboard seems the natural transition given the changing times. Now, the website name itself is a reflection of so many layers which go into defining me. I cannot compartmentalize them into just a few boxes. Travelling Running, Fitness, Dogs, Music, Life experiences .. there are so many shades to me. 

All of them, whether travelling or running or working out or being with my dogs, or just simply listening to some music, give me joy beyond compare. They are almost meditative in the way they help me clear my mind, re-arrange my thoughts and refresh and recharge me. 

Life is not meant to be lived at one place; life is meant to be explored, discovered, found and reinvented with your own experiences - new places and cities, new roads and off-beaten tracks. Working out, in some ways, does the same for  me. I discovered how much negativity seeps out of life when I workout. I found my biggest strength due to running and being consistent in my workouts - a stronger, more resilient version of me !!!!

To take either away from me is to take away a part of me from me. While travelling has been in my blood since perhaps the time I was born, running is something relatively new. But now its as necessary as breathing. The excitement of packing my bags, of booking my flights, of buying my new pair of shoes or hunting for the those perfect headphones, is a joy that can't be described.

I have made humble attempt to put my passions into words and I hope you like it.

Till next time