Friday, November 21, 2008

Panchgani


Huh!!

My second visit outside the SIC CAMPUS – first being the outbound session at Sinhagad.

So, where was this second visit- PANCHGANI.

It’s called as Moral Re-armament Camp (MRA)

So, what does it mean….that I am still figuring it out!!

First things first.

After putting in a lot of hard work (besides me, myself and friends, number of other factors also go into the exam preparation) SIIB allows us to rejuvenate ourselves after a stressing tenure of exams.

REFRESH!!

Hill station, with loads of trees,pure air,matchless ambience and no tensions….makes everyone happy ….so was I.

Panchgani is a beautiful place. I don’t know if it’s valid for the entire region or for the place where we went – ASIA PLATEAU.

But, it’s so divine.

From Pune it takes a close 3 hours depending upon certain factors to reach Asia Plateau.

The journey is smooth and when friends are around time flies.

The day we reached we were welcomed…..let me guess, not welcomed but rather given a series of sessions which we were REQUIRED to attend.

Give me a break!! Session = Classes ….not again

But, then learning is a continuous process…so, why worry. This one would be different.

There were a number of sessions conducted by a host of experienced “volunteers” as they like to be called.

Those I attended were- conflicts, choices, identity, and others based around the theme –IDENTITY.

Don’t ask me what all happened….I am still figuring out there names let apart what happened in them.

All in all , they were supposedly good for many and worthless for others.

Besides, all these, the stomach needs some good food to keep the system working.
So, food is really SIMPLE out here. Mark me on this.

Ek dum “saada “. Why??---simple eating good thinking.
The best part which I’ll pick would be two things –

washing / cleaning dishes

serving


Now, this was perhaps the first time I washed dishes- in short – “bartan saaf karma.”

And how did it I feel…that only the pics (for private circulation only) would tell.
But, one thing was for sure – I was happy …washing the dishes made me feel good about something. What ,I don’t know.

Here in Asia Plateau, they have this beautiful custom of washing dishes all by yourself. You eat well, and then wash the dish yourself.

Another important thing is serving and taking together i.e. – We as students were divided into groups…each group were marked for one particular task - washing / serving.

Also, when you eat on a table, any one person volunteers to pick up all the plates of the other people on that table and it’s his/her duty to take them to the kitchen.

Besides this, small things count a lot here. These are the things which give those yummy toppings on that final dish of manners.

We were taken for a small trek to the table tops – Panchgani (5 tops / 5 table tops)

Treks are great and especially when you know that the view from the top would be mesmerising.

Each day saw us learn new things.

Growing in the areas of honesty, love, unselfishness and purity.

The walk around the rock view and valley view edificio’s was simply too good.

There was plenty to take-away from this 4 day camp. It’s on individual to individual what they take.

The sole aims of such visits are making the world a better place to live. And no one but the individuals can do this.
So,all those who read this blog entry start right here right now..contributing in your own special way in making you a good global citizen and your world a place to come for.
For details about the MRA visit them @ - http://www.in.iofc.org/

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Journeys are memorable !!!





Now it’s not my fault if I meet good people on my way!!


Same thing happened this time.


June 4 was the day I left Delhi for Pune. No way similar, to Karishma leaving Abhishek for Sunjay!!


And whom I met it’s already been written,earlier.


NOW, October 25 was the day I was earmarked to go to Delhi.


See, after so long SIIB gives time to its “brand ambassadors” to go home.


As it was Diwali time needless to say the very reliable Bhartiya Rail was out of tickets.


Thanks to my lovely people in Delhi, they somehow managed to get two tickets. (Me and my roomie).


Yes, waiting tickets!!


But, they were close to 100% sure that it would be confirmed.


I was more than sure!


But, it not always happens as the way you like it to be.


So, whatever may be the reasons we were UNCONFIRMED :-( (May be diwali time, Friday.....)


Believe me; going to Delhi after a long time, close 28 hours journey, you can't expect anything wrong to happen.
But, MBA’s are made to be flexible and positive at all times. (We had no other options.)
We boarded the train and VOLA!! There were students all around .But, the baggage they were carrying made me think if at all they would be coming back ever.


Won't go into details.


I met my or rather we traced out one of our classmates who was sweet and kind enough to help us. (She had to)


All the baggage which included the laptops, were kept in safe custody with her.


And the rest, here and there. :-)


Believe me; noone helps you in such situations. Exceptions are always there.


Honeslty, if I were at her place, sleeping with three laptop bags on the seat, is just not easy.

Kudos to her for all the help!!

Now, this is about it. Rest we managed :-)



About the return journey.


This is was much better. A confirmed ticket .A new train. And some new people. I was travelling alone :-(


But,the moment I entered I saw the entire cabin, where my seat was, was already filled with baggage. My gosh ! Who the hell was travelling!


Soon, I was told by a visibly tensed aunty that - "my daughter has one ticket confirmed. And 5 of her friends had waiting tickets".


What to more to say. I understand things pretty fast. Right Neha!
So, because it was Delhi, because Dad and........ were with me and as usual we had our armed guards, my luggage was given due respect and in it went.


So the journey started.


Soon, the aunt’s daughter's friend's (OK ... Pankhuri's friends) realised nothing GOOD was to happen that they wished for. No seats.


I know how it feels!!! :-)




Then in front of the my seat( side upper and side lower ) came 3 dudes !....what do I say , hmm,innocent looking people .


All three students. Two from BVP, Pune and the other from MIT, Pune.


I was feeling bored. I tried hard to wrap my Statistics Worksheets ,but, believe me I love " to marro gappein". Whenever time permits.That’s exactly what I did.


Came down from my seat (upper birth) and that was it!!


They say time flies so fast when you're enjoying.


True.


We never knew when it flew!


Those three were so very innocent. With the freshness of recent 12 pass out ,doing engineering ,trying to adjust to the hostel life ,I walked back into my initial days of Engineering College life.


Really, the innocent questions they asked, the way their eyes looked up to me for I don't know for what, the hope, the positivity and the freshness they had made me realised that time has gone by.


I am a grown up now. Someone whom people can ask for help/suggestion/gyaan. uh ho uh ho !!


And I was game.


I tried my best to answer what all possible wide reached queries they had in minds.


Whenever you travel through MP, make sure, at Bhopal, you have lassi.ONLY SANCHI's.(local milk cooperative's product). - the boys said.
Whenever I am in a fix,I prefer to go for the products that have been recommended to me by my trusted reviewers.


See you learn things from so many people. No matter if they are elder, younger or just like you.
They told me about the famous "lassi of Sanchi” which is a must have, which they bought for me and I was fida for this gesture.


Hmmm....


What else, as you grow up you tend to be rigid. Little flexible. Tough to change ideas/beliefs.

But inside us all we have a child, who is innocent and always in need of pampering.

So, try to let out that child in you more often than you think you need!!



It was a good journey. Both ways.


Something to blog about :-)



PS-Did I miss anyone?
Pankhuri.....an Engg. Working for a Pune based company.
And and and.....


That’s about it!!


Coolie!

Aloha on the Ganges

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