My 14 beautiful memories of Year 2017

What I learnt in 2017- “No one is a consistent winner and no one is a consistent loser”

My 2017 started on a bad note.. I was going through a very tough phase of my life. No job and few other small issues...!!
But, the only thing needed was to keep moving. I knew stars are not visible during day time but during night they shine and are visible.

Here are the 14 reasons for which I will cherish and remember 2017 for my entire life.

1.     Moved to the City of Dreams (Mumbai) and that was my home for 9 months. A city which gives you fruits for the efforts you put in. A city that is true reflection of hard work and dedication. 

2.     They say fall in love when you are young. So, I dated one and able to maintain my status from Single to Secret. ;)

3.     Quit/controlled on hard drinks- broke up with Rum/Whiskey so I can truly love Beer.

4.   Apart from my corporate classy job I entered into the field of trek leading and happily served 500+ trekkers in the Western Ghats and the Himalayas.

5.     Learnt time management - life is for one who bounces back on time. I learnt a new chapter. I reply for all the conversation which is meant for two individuals within a time frame of 20 mints (it may be WhatsApp/Messenger/Instagram/Text/Email or call).

6.   Became part of STOK Kangri summit and successfully climbed it (the highest trekkable peak).

7.     Ran my 3rd full marathon and successfully completed it.

8.     Explored Leh Ladakh on Royal Enfield with one of my best friends.

9.     Became part of two survival treks and learnt how to survive on mountains and in forest with basic amenities (limited/no food and water).

10.   Met with back injury while climbing one of the mountains in Himalaya's. Still in pain but hope to recover soon.

11.   Explored Nepal with family- they say Nepal is a beauty. So, planned my trip with beautiful ladies my mother and sister.

12.   Quit corporate classy job to live a life of saint in Himalayas. Travelled and explored Himalayas for 2 months.

13. Became part of trek leading company as a partner and started taking care of Karnataka and Himalayas trek operations. (So, next time when you planning for any trek/trip/tour feel free to contact me :p )

14. They say marry the one who knows swimming, driving and cooking. So finally, I wore apron and entered into the kitchen.

There used to be always several ups and downs. Each day I used to accept new challenges and defeat fear…

Life Goes on … Keep reading… Wish you all HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018

Life of A Trek Leader

My Story:

Few months back....I read it Online... We are looking for “Trek Leaders”… Being an active trekker I was aware about the word "Trek" and born to a father who is serving and leading the nation from many decades I didn’t take much time to understand word "Leader"… Out of curiosity, I applied for it…!! Few days later I received an email saying “You have been shortlisted for further rounds of interview to become a trek leader”…!!

From other sources I got to know that 200+ candidates had applied for the same and 29 have been shortlisted for further interview process. After 2 rounds of grilling interview (Group discussion and PI) and 45 “situation reaction test” there were 7 of us who made it to becoming “Trek Leaders”...!!

By no way, I wanted to quit my stable corporate job… hence chose trek leading as part time option. After 2 days of basic training I started leading treks during weekends and on holidays.

It has just been a few months since I started my journey and have led around hundreds of trekkers so far… I get an opportunity to meet new people every weekend who directly or indirectly teach me a lot… It has transformed me from a young boy to a responsible leader… It has taught me to be humble, calm and respectful of others. !! It has given me a platform to stand in front of a group and deliver speeches...!! This indirectly gives me courage to do better in my corporate job and become more responsible...!!

My parents and best friends keep asking me why I chose to live a tough life during weekends and holidays after 5 hectic days in corporate cubicle...!!

My answer remains the same- This is my passion and I love it. I know mountains and adventures are not at all predictable… they both require a man with stamina, guts and a lot of courage...!!! 

For the Readers/ New Trekkers:

Who is a trek leader???

When a Major (an army officer) goes for war he ensures the safety of his soldiers. In the same way a trek leader is the one who ensures the safety of trekkers. He is the one who puts his dedicated effort to bring the best days of trekkers life that can be cherished for entire life.

Skills of trek leader:

With natural leadership, knowledge of safety skills, management competency, interpersonal skills, they are the ones who know mountains very well and can carry out a rescue single handed. They are not only good listeners, they are also a good story teller. They meet strangers all the time who have an impact and leave some story for them. They are not doctors by education but most of the trek leaders are certified first aid professionals and hold good knowledge about medicines.

Dos and don’ts:

•        My personal experience, several times I found trekkers asking trek leader to carry their bag and other stuff. Please avoid doing same. They are leaders who is meant to lead event, treks and trekkers.

•        Love can happen anywhere and obviously with person who has stamina, leadership and courage. They are smart and they know their responsibilities and importance. Still in such cases make sure you connect with him/her offline after trek.

•        While trekking to Himalayas, I found few of the trekkers appreciating trek leaders with money. Avoid it. Most of the trek leaders do it for passion. They are happy with what they earn. Appreciate them with your words. Invite them once for dinner if you reside in same city. Meet them next time if you visit same place. They are people who can be your friends for lifetime.

“God Bless Trek leaders” :) 

Travel Guide

Hence after break of few months your favorite blogger/author is back. With a wide experience of exploring 24 states of India so far (left with other 5 states), 2 countries,  trekking across different parts of the country, climbing few of the highest peaks of the country, Himalaya and with the dream of travelling the world, here I am with the guide on travelling.

Importantly, I follow a simple rule in life - I don't appreciate rich people... I don't appreciate people with costly shoes or watches. I don't look at their luxury cars or bungalows... I don’t appreciate the NRI…I don't desire to be part of their lavish weekend parties or their pricey dinners...

All I love and appreciate are those travelers... Their airport check-ins, their Instagram updates in front of monumental beauties and at the top of rough hills, their sexy road trips, the exotic cuisines they try, the cheap but beautiful scarfs they buy from local roadside shops, their gorgeous kissing-couple photos they click around the world, those courageous adventures which take breath for a while, those runners who wake up daily early morning and run miles, those people who inspire and motivate the society and teach others something logical, those people who give their minimum 45 minutes of time to themselves to be physically fit..!! These things amaze me more. They give me life goals. They make me realize that I should be the one giving the same aspiration and life goals to a lot others in future...!! If you are the one who love traveling... Who love to do above things…The one who love to explore places, who love to travel...then this is for you....!!

This may surely help you to travel anywhere in the world and will also provide you some amount of satisfaction while doing backpacking.

Planning - first choose the place you want to travel. Do online research. Google it. What you looking for? (I.e. Adventure, site seeing, road trip, water games, other sports or anything). Think practically. We are human beings, we live in real world not in an imaginary one. We can't cover 3-4 places in a single day. Do not imagine. The reason why I am saying this, last year I was travelling to Punjab and one friend of the same group wanted to travel full Punjab in a single day.

Online booking- once you are done with planning part you must need to go for online booking. We live in world of Internet so book everything (i.e. flight, hotel, Adventure activities) through different apps or travel companies or local travel companies who normally provide with a lot of promo codes or coupons. Make use of it, get discount or cash back.

Things to do:

Explore: Go and meet new people, learn local language, sit in small cafes, drink tea/coffee.

Sightseeing: The simple activity of visiting places of interest in a particular location. Can be done by anyone and everyone. Go for it.

Adventure: There are hardly few who got the guts. Be choosy while picking the adventure activities i.e. scuba dive, paragliding, Bungee Jump, sky diving, Flying Fox, Rafting, Giant Swing, Rock climbing, Parasailing, Skiing etc. A simple rule of adventure if you do mistake you will be punished on the spot. The truth is it goes from few injuries to death. Be careful.

Hiking: Walking for miles to see the nature beauty. Can be done by majority.

Trekking/climbing: To explore and see great natural beauty. Usually in mountainous areas. Be choosy because sometimes it requires a lot of stamina.

Things to carry-

Spend few thousands here. Buy a beautiful and strong trekking bag (check online or in decathlon store)..!!

Eatables - there is no doubt you need energy may be you need lot of energy and stamina. Carry dark chocolates, potato chips-lays the salted one, bourbon or hide and seek biscuits, Parle G, glucose and ORS.

Clothes- My girl when she travels, she usually get ready with 3 big bag. One of her bag only contain her shoes. Please do not follow her.  For you, carry anything you love to wear. 2-3 set of clothes is enough. Do not forget a pair of night dress. Sports shoe helps everywhere, slippers or flip flops for regular and comfortable use.

First Aid- Any clinic or medical store you go they suggest you the better one. But do not forget medicines for simple allergy problem disease i.e. stomach pain, vomit, loose motions and headache.

Beauty - At end of all, you want to remember the moment which you spend at different places. So take photos, pictures and for this you must need to look beautiful... Do not click dull. Do not forget to carry your aviators, lip balm, lipsticks, face wash and bla bla…

Negotiation-You travelled to new place and how you can forget to buy something cheap but unique for your loved ones. Go for it... Buy something. Shop well... But remember... the Local vendors or shopkeepers are very expert while dealing with new faces. So negotiate for everything you buy. Check in two -three shops.

Money-Avoid carrying too much cash, use your debit and credit card. Nowadays most of the places you will find access to ATM. Make use of it.

Budget Travelling-Believe me or not but travelling costs a lot. Make sure you do budget travelling which doesn’t affect your basic needs. Make use of apps which generally provide discounts i.e. Goibibo, Oyo rooms, abhi bus, red bus, local travel websites etc..!!

Hope it helps... God Bless Travelers... J

Keep reading… upcoming articles  “Dream Girl”, “Why I Run”, “Being Trek Leader” and many more…!!

Relocation Expenses- “The city of Dreams”

This time I decided to move to a place that has given life and success to many people...People come here with dreams... Few Fail… Many SUCCEED and some Die With Their Dreams and they call it "Mumbai Meri Jaan"

On my first day the first person I met was from Bihar...The second person I met introduced himself as an actor. Obviously in the 1hr duration, I understood the fact that it's a land where you find many Bihari’s and Actors...No hard feeling for Bihari’s as my origin is also Bihar..!!!

About these young boys who call themselves as actors are actually strugglers who are fighting from months to years to find a single role in Bollywood or TV serials..!!

We live in country where most of the youngsters run behind cricket. But, this place tells a different story. These youngsters have only one thing in mind- to become Bollywood Actors... Everyone has their own story... a bad story... A sad story but a hope to do extraordinary... a burning desire to become like Amitabh or Akshay or others..!!

I know relocation is never easy... It’s always tough to come out from one's comfort zone and experience something new... Very new. This is not the first time I challenged my comfort zone... The 10+ years of stay in Bangalore gives me a tag of "Bangalorean"...  To break the bars, I may hold the Aadhar card and voter ID of different states...  but I call INDIA as my HOME...  To give a new experience, a new way, a new lesson I desire and love to relocate...

It's almost a month now... I am familiar with the city... Early morning when I go out of the apartment, the watchman stands and salutes (Initially he asked me "aap hero ban ne aaye ho??" And I couldn't stop my laugh. Later somehow convinced him I work with corporate company as a resource management professional)... The two beautiful ladies who walk around the apartment give me a big smile when they cross me... When I run in park near my apartment, the retired Colonel who runs in park greets me with loud voice "good morning Bhardwaj" ... When I go to tea stall the chaiwala bhaiya always keeps track of my time ie "aaj 5 minute late aaye ho.. aaj 5 minute jaldi aaye ho.." and with a big smile and open heart gives me a glass full of tea.

I have heard a phrase "Delhi Dilwalo ki" but I would love to say "Mumbai Dilwalo Ki" Yes, with a month of stay in Mumbai. I feel this place is home outside home..!! This place is for everyone. When I travel to places like MARINE DRIVE I see celebrities, rich families smiling and walking… when I look on streets/footpath I found other few families smiling and sleeping on streets/footpath... Late evening when I visited to JUHU BEACH I found the fitness freak Running on the beach, got motivated to a point... other end I found a sex worker giving hand job to a guy, I just prayed to God give them a room... YOU READ IT CORRECT... Both were smiling and happy the way they are. One who signs budget of crores and work in Bollywood, eats pizza is happy the other who beg few bucks and eats Vada paav gifted by someone is also happy. THIS CITY GIVES TO EVERYONE FOR THE WORK THEY DO FOR THE EFFORT THEY PUT...!!!

Lesson learnt- So far it's short duration with the city of Dreams...but a learning experience. I travelled a lot in India and also stayed in a city like Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad but I consider Mumbai is the most expensive city in the country...I learnt to use public transport i.e. metro, local trains and buses (to a level started avoiding Uber and Ola)... I never dreamt to be an actor but to experience something new I am open for few auditions and hope will write my experience soon…. I would love to explore, what this beautiful city has kept for me..!!

God Bless "Mumbaikar"

Stay tuned .. upcoming blogs "Why I Run", "Dream Girl" and "RamKrish-Social Services"