My Special Christmas
Few days before Christmas I read an article about the stories of Santa Claus told to children and how he surprises them with his gifts. I too had heard these stories many times, have seen couple of movies on the same themes. After reading that article I was wondering does Santa give gifts to some grown ups who are 30 + like me!!
A day before Christmas i.e. Friday 24th Dec. I took an off as I was fed up of the hectic office work which was giving lesser time to me for myself. This is an year end, plus in financial services that too in Life Insurance you are always dealing with loads of parameters to be achieved. Meet your targets, work on you Annual Operating Plan, Morning Meetings, Con-calls. After some time this all SUCKS and end up in migrane!!
I happened to call Vikram on Friday. He said he is going 2 days out of Bangalore on 25th early morning on his bike, alone. I asked his trip schedule. I was pretty much impressed and asked how come he is going alone. Couple of his other friends had promised to accompany him, but later could not join him. I said “Chalo, I will come lets go”. He said we will leave at 4.00 AM, I was like how is 4.00 AM possible in this chilling weather that too on a bike!! Finally I agreed for 4.30, as I had planned with Akka to go for movie Tees Maar Khan, 2nd Show on Friday. That stupid movie gave me headache and dint allow me to have sound sleep. I Slept at 2.00 AM only to receive Vikram's wake up call at 3.30 AM. He came sharp at 4.30 to my house at Vijaynagar. I took another 30 mins to pack my things and get myself wrapped tightly.
Finally his Royal Enfield bike started from my house at 5.00 AM. After 30 mins we got down the new flyover to take deviation on Mangalore road, had tea and again started. From here the REAL journey started. The road is in shabby condition, tankers and buses were coming in opp direction at speed making it difficult to focus on road in dark and 2 kms later everything is covered with fog – the road too. We slowed down, I started laughing loud – things cannot get worse like this - all at a time. We still continued slowly, I should really appreciate this guy he was riding without any complaints. Finally he got momentum and we breezed ahead in the chilling weather. I had never experienced so much cold in my life even when I was completely packed, the last time was at Mount Titlis in Switzerland.
I have an old habit of drinking 1 litre water as soon as I get up early morning. This started giving me lots of trouble. Some every 30 mins I was asking Vikram to stop bike, so that I could leak. Usually when you are driving on highways and have got the speed required for the journey you never feel like stopping your car or bike. Poor chap he never complained for the frequent beaks I was taking. However the most difficult part was the cold climate. I had hidden my arms in Jacket, I was wondering how he was driving without any gloves. After some 100 KM from bangalore we stopped for my leak again. It was around 6.30 in morning. As soon as we got down the bike, we saw our hands are fully frozen and numb. In fact his hands had almost turned green in cold weather. The most difficult one was for me, my fingers had become so numb that I was unable to unzip to leak out. Had to rub hands for few mins to make my fingers work properly. The ride continued after the leak.
By around 7.30 my stomach started growling for food. We reached the Kamat Upachar after Channaraya Pattana at 8.30. Hot poori followed by glass full of hot tea made our body warm. I switched off my cell after breakfast. We started at from there at 9.30. Luckily the raod from here was good and the enfield showed its real power, we zoomed past couple of towns to reach Sakaleshpur in an hour. From there the Ghat Section starts and all the road is green everywhere, I took out camera and started clicking everything I found green!!
Hardly 10 KMS from Sakaleshpur, the road wass all spoiled making Vikram cut the speed down. The roads are so bad due to heavy traffic, oil tankers moving from Mangalore to all parts of south India have made road worst for normal ppl like us. The complete stretch of 40KMS is ruined off and you will find all kinds of vehicle struggling to move ahead. Some potholes are as deep as 1 feet deep. There were couple of cars and lorries who have fallen off road and on the road too. GOD save the cars. Luckily we were on bike, we could avoid some. However to travel some 15-20 KMS in the worst roads of ghat drained us completely. We HAD to stop to rest.
Finally we managed to reach Dharmastala at 1.30 PM, 30 mins behind our plan. The whole temple town was full of people from all places, especially bangalore. I thought darshan is not at all possible today in this weekend crowd. As soon as we reached there, Vikram's common friend provided a room. As soon as I entered the room, I laid my back down, eyes closed. We had our bath once again and were privileged to be taken directly for darshan and prasada. It was worth the pain we took to travel. The prasada was really good and filling for us tired blokes!!
Soon after lunch we left Dharmastala at 3.30 towards Kukke. We have to travel on the road back to Bangalore to take a deviation at Gundya on highway after traveling 40 KMS. We took a break there, ate boti had coffee and then off to Kukke Subramanya. At around 5.15 we reached there with one stop on Kumaradhara river Bridge for few snaps. We went for almost 5 - 6 lodges, almost each one was full, courtesy Bangaloreans. Nowadays which ever place you go on weekend, it may be Mysore, Ooty, Resorts in Pondy, Velur, Kodaikanal each of these places will be flooded by Bangaloreans.
Finally we got room in one lodge. First thing we did after entering room is we had HOT HOT WATER BATH. After bath I switched on my cell phone to find few msgs asking why my cell was switched off. In a moment I dozed off only to be woken up by Vikram at 8.30PM. By the time we had dinner and came back there were 3 more missed calls, and a threatening msg from a friend to answer her call!! I got piece of mind for switching off my cell. Immediately after the call, again I switched it off and went for sleep.
Early morning we got up at 5.30. By the time we had bath, got darshan and breakfast the time was 9.00. One thing I liked about Kukke Subramanya was the presence of power you will feel while seeing the deity. You will be in its hangover!!
The journey back was not much tiresome as the climate was cool and we were fresh. While on the way back I went back thinking about SANTA again and the gifts he gives on Christmas. I felt he chose to gift me my space and time for me myself, away from everything in Bangalore at places which were peaceful, calm and with greenery. This gift rejuvenated me. I also got a bottle of red wine and chocolates from a friend the next day after coming to Bangalore.
Always we have specific wishes, we expect certain gifts, always these are on top of our minds. If we chose to shed down these and accept with open arms whatever is brought in front of us – we will definitely receive best of the gifts and we will become happy. I have received it during the Christmas by SANTA. And yes, SANTA does give gifts to some grown ups even though they are 30 + like me.
Your's
Raju Hiremath
Be a part of my FB page. Visit me on www.facebook.com/raju.hiremath7
A day before Christmas i.e. Friday 24th Dec. I took an off as I was fed up of the hectic office work which was giving lesser time to me for myself. This is an year end, plus in financial services that too in Life Insurance you are always dealing with loads of parameters to be achieved. Meet your targets, work on you Annual Operating Plan, Morning Meetings, Con-calls. After some time this all SUCKS and end up in migrane!!
I happened to call Vikram on Friday. He said he is going 2 days out of Bangalore on 25th early morning on his bike, alone. I asked his trip schedule. I was pretty much impressed and asked how come he is going alone. Couple of his other friends had promised to accompany him, but later could not join him. I said “Chalo, I will come lets go”. He said we will leave at 4.00 AM, I was like how is 4.00 AM possible in this chilling weather that too on a bike!! Finally I agreed for 4.30, as I had planned with Akka to go for movie Tees Maar Khan, 2nd Show on Friday. That stupid movie gave me headache and dint allow me to have sound sleep. I Slept at 2.00 AM only to receive Vikram's wake up call at 3.30 AM. He came sharp at 4.30 to my house at Vijaynagar. I took another 30 mins to pack my things and get myself wrapped tightly.
Finally his Royal Enfield bike started from my house at 5.00 AM. After 30 mins we got down the new flyover to take deviation on Mangalore road, had tea and again started. From here the REAL journey started. The road is in shabby condition, tankers and buses were coming in opp direction at speed making it difficult to focus on road in dark and 2 kms later everything is covered with fog – the road too. We slowed down, I started laughing loud – things cannot get worse like this - all at a time. We still continued slowly, I should really appreciate this guy he was riding without any complaints. Finally he got momentum and we breezed ahead in the chilling weather. I had never experienced so much cold in my life even when I was completely packed, the last time was at Mount Titlis in Switzerland.
I have an old habit of drinking 1 litre water as soon as I get up early morning. This started giving me lots of trouble. Some every 30 mins I was asking Vikram to stop bike, so that I could leak. Usually when you are driving on highways and have got the speed required for the journey you never feel like stopping your car or bike. Poor chap he never complained for the frequent beaks I was taking. However the most difficult part was the cold climate. I had hidden my arms in Jacket, I was wondering how he was driving without any gloves. After some 100 KM from bangalore we stopped for my leak again. It was around 6.30 in morning. As soon as we got down the bike, we saw our hands are fully frozen and numb. In fact his hands had almost turned green in cold weather. The most difficult one was for me, my fingers had become so numb that I was unable to unzip to leak out. Had to rub hands for few mins to make my fingers work properly. The ride continued after the leak.
By around 7.30 my stomach started growling for food. We reached the Kamat Upachar after Channaraya Pattana at 8.30. Hot poori followed by glass full of hot tea made our body warm. I switched off my cell after breakfast. We started at from there at 9.30. Luckily the raod from here was good and the enfield showed its real power, we zoomed past couple of towns to reach Sakaleshpur in an hour. From there the Ghat Section starts and all the road is green everywhere, I took out camera and started clicking everything I found green!!
Hardly 10 KMS from Sakaleshpur, the road wass all spoiled making Vikram cut the speed down. The roads are so bad due to heavy traffic, oil tankers moving from Mangalore to all parts of south India have made road worst for normal ppl like us. The complete stretch of 40KMS is ruined off and you will find all kinds of vehicle struggling to move ahead. Some potholes are as deep as 1 feet deep. There were couple of cars and lorries who have fallen off road and on the road too. GOD save the cars. Luckily we were on bike, we could avoid some. However to travel some 15-20 KMS in the worst roads of ghat drained us completely. We HAD to stop to rest.
Finally we managed to reach Dharmastala at 1.30 PM, 30 mins behind our plan. The whole temple town was full of people from all places, especially bangalore. I thought darshan is not at all possible today in this weekend crowd. As soon as we reached there, Vikram's common friend provided a room. As soon as I entered the room, I laid my back down, eyes closed. We had our bath once again and were privileged to be taken directly for darshan and prasada. It was worth the pain we took to travel. The prasada was really good and filling for us tired blokes!!
Finally we got room in one lodge. First thing we did after entering room is we had HOT HOT WATER BATH. After bath I switched on my cell phone to find few msgs asking why my cell was switched off. In a moment I dozed off only to be woken up by Vikram at 8.30PM. By the time we had dinner and came back there were 3 more missed calls, and a threatening msg from a friend to answer her call!! I got piece of mind for switching off my cell. Immediately after the call, again I switched it off and went for sleep.
Early morning we got up at 5.30. By the time we had bath, got darshan and breakfast the time was 9.00. One thing I liked about Kukke Subramanya was the presence of power you will feel while seeing the deity. You will be in its hangover!!
The journey back was not much tiresome as the climate was cool and we were fresh. While on the way back I went back thinking about SANTA again and the gifts he gives on Christmas. I felt he chose to gift me my space and time for me myself, away from everything in Bangalore at places which were peaceful, calm and with greenery. This gift rejuvenated me. I also got a bottle of red wine and chocolates from a friend the next day after coming to Bangalore.
Always we have specific wishes, we expect certain gifts, always these are on top of our minds. If we chose to shed down these and accept with open arms whatever is brought in front of us – we will definitely receive best of the gifts and we will become happy. I have received it during the Christmas by SANTA. And yes, SANTA does give gifts to some grown ups even though they are 30 + like me.
Your's
Raju Hiremath
Be a part of my FB page. Visit me on www.facebook.com/raju.hiremath7
Nice Write-up! Happy Thumping!!!
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