Trek To Happiness

"He who climbs the highest mountain laughs at all tragedies real or imaginary"-said famous German philosopher Frederich Nietzsche

How many of you like to travel?Almost everyone likes to travel.But I was so passionate about it.During my school days,my mom always struggles to wake me up in early mornings.But one day a school trip was planned.As per the plan Bus would pick me up at 5.00 early in the morning.So I set three Alarms one at 3.30 am,4.00 am and 4.30 am.With all set I slept calmly.Suddenly I woke up and shouted at my mother"mom it is time,wake up, pack up my things the bus will come".My mom switched on the lights and growled at me that the time was only 1'0 clock.Those experiences keep on tickling me whenever i think about travel.Today Friends I am going to share my experiences of the trekking trip which I had on coorg hills ranges in these following three periods shortly called FUN.

Lets start with First period in the trip F in FUN represents Freezing period.I started the trip with three of my friends from Bangalore in a hired cab.It was 12.30 am ,a freezy frosty night adds to it the driver refused to close the cab windows to get clear rear view.The spine chilled cold made us shiver all the way to coorg.Night journeys require a person to keep the driver awake.I took that job and sat next to driver.The driver didn't know any language other than kannada.None of us knew kannada.But I kept him awake with my own version of kannada. After some time I felt sleepy and asked one of my friend to take up that herculean task.Being a Brave man he took the challenge;believe me he slept within 5 minutes of the travel in turn putting all our lives in the firing line.Soon I replaced him.We reached a place called Tibetan golden temple at 4.00 early in the morning.That was a cold chilled morning and my body felt like an Ice on a snow-caped mountain.

With those Freezing experiences lets leap into second period U stands for Unusual period.After a freezing Night I had taken little nap in the early morning.As I slowly opened up my eyes,it was a cheering sunlight covered with fog.The sunlight felt refreshing, rejuvenating and relaxing.The mountains were with full of beautiful scenaries. An the scenaries kept on repeating in our eyes.At last we found that the driver has lost the way to spot and roaming around the same place.We somehow reached the destination.In order to start our trek earlier we decided to have a quicker breakfast.The chapatis that I brought were so helpful at that time. one of friend said that," it was an unforgettable breakfast in his life".The chapatis were as elastic as rubber.After finishing our breakfast we started our trek and were walking on a well laid road.At one point it had two ways.we acted as per the Robert frost words"Two roads diverged into woods,I took the road less traveled and that has made all the difference".But I didn't expect the difference would be a trembling one. we were lost in the forest.We could not get our way back.After some distance we found few local tribal plucking the seeds of the coffee plant.Alas we got our breath back.But at the same time we were afraid that they would scold us as we had entered their premises without their permission.But we persuaded them by clicking few snaps of them.The girls and women were so shy to photographs.

After those Unusual experience now lets trek into our third period N in FUN called Nerve-wracking period.The trip became really intriguing when we saw the summit of mountain from the midpoint of our journey.It urged us to attain the meridian.But the truth is there were few girls climbing downhill who had climbed early in the climbing.That was like a tight slap for us.If they could do why couldn't we?And we started walking fast towards the peak.Ironically they were well prepared but we had just a packet of biscuit and water bottle of size as smaller as a cocktail glass.To add to our dismay there were no water in the mountain stream-lets.We we fully exhausted,dehydrated and almost crucified.we had covered 75% of the distance and we were drained to core.The remaining 25% was the toughest part in the trek.At that point two of friends stepped back.one more friend and I didn't give up.We continued our quest towards the crest.Dredging towards the top and traveling upwards gave us terrific tingling sensation.This made us tremendous.When we reached the hilltop,we almost saw paradise.

Friends I have shared my FUN filled Freezing,Unusual and Nerve wracking experiences on the coorg hill ranges.Finally I would like to quote few verses from the Poem Mountain written by Kathleen delicato

Looking up into the heights, the sky blue,
I begin my ascent of the mountain.
With my first step, steady, honest and true,
My heart's filled with the goal I shall attain.

Though as I reach the higher paths I find
Determination begins to waver.
The rocks and icy winds are so unkind
And erode the courage I did savor.

T'would be easy to give up and go back,
Return to my safe and comforting home.
Then my inner voice cries, "Attack, attack!"
So I grit my teeth and push myself on.

When I reach the summit, see all I've gained,
Well worth all the trials, well worth all the pain.

Networking key to better society

It took 90 years for the people of India to liberate India,but If people would not have had good network with each other that transcended caste,creed,religion;Independence would have become an everlasting struggle.Yes friends, Networking among people and great leaders at those times have given us this eternal freedom.some of my friends asked networking ,what is it going to do our society?already we have better society?In what ways is it going to make society a better one?Today we will understand and make them understand that value of networking in building a better society in these following three ways shortly abbreviated as PWD.
So the First way P stands for peaceful society.Are we living in a society as same as the one we lived at independence times?No,Then what kind of society we live in?A society full of crisis,fights,violence all over the world.what is happening in Australia and Mumbai?Racial crisis disturbing normal life of the people.People live who live one parts of the world don't care about the people in the other parts of the world.People are happy with the things they get?We live in better society,isn't?In my boyhood,I lived in a building which had many families.Both my father and mother worked,so they could not give me enough time for me.But I didn't people lovesick because I got the much needed care from my neighborhood families.Even Parents were not anxious about me because they knew that I will be safe with them.Those are good old days.Nowadays what kind of neighborhood we have?People tend to talk each other only during emergencies.Networking with neighborhood people will bring back the good old serene days.
Lets move on to second way W stands for Wisdom or wealthier society.can a society be better one if it has only some scholars where remaining people are dumbs?No,A society can be called better only when all of it members are wisemen.People communication and connection will bring about this much needed wisdom among a society.One can understand one's true potential only by interacting with the other people.For example There is people Network which is striving hard to develop communication and leadership skills among its fraternity.Yes friends toastmasters has been giving the knowledge to its members all these years and will continue to do so.Only Because of toastmaster I am able to identify my capabilities be it in public speaking and in achieving my career goals. Not only Toastmaster there are so many social networking sites and technical forums doing their jobs.Networking with people has given opportunity to identify my potential and has enlightened me.What is missing here?We fail to take up these ways?We know knowledge is wealth. Therefore Network with people,and connect with people to live in a wealthier society.
Last and Final Way D stands for Developed society without social problems.Can a society be better one with 50% literacy rate,40% employed people,30% wealthier people?No,The society will be better only only if it achieves 100% in every thing.To achieve that emphatize with fellow people.Gandhiji said "Best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of the others".Jockin Aruputham was recently awarded as the RD Asian of the year,.who dwells in the slums of the Mumbai for the upliftment of the poor.In his interivew with the magazine Reader digest,he said that the Network he had with people all over the world has helped him to work for the fellow people.Karthin Raman who is a social activist said that NGO has given the opportunity to enter people lives,hear their stories and bring a pinnacle in their society.Not only above two people there are so many people using the Network agents such as NGO etc to connect with fellow people for a better society.Bond with the Fellow people to eradicate social problems such as poverty,unemployment,illiteracy etc.Networking has shown its key value in building our society a better one.

Finally "Empathize and Empower" is the last term theme in Bangalore toastmaster club.I think we will do justice for the above line.So Friends to Live in a society with tranquility,Wealth,development with social problems,Network with people,connect with people,mingle with fellow people.Will you?