....Close to the Earth , even Closer to the Heart ....!!

The Zipline carrying  Arnav  first  followed  by  me  over  the Tegallalang rice terrace  enthused  us  into  more  daring  River  rafting  amidst  rain in  an 11 km stretch  in Ayum River  with sharp currents  ,  eddies     and  rapids  ,  as  we  negotiated  with  both Archana & Doel  pedalling    upfront  and  both  of  us  behind :  the river  flowing sharply  in  the gorge  dotted  with waterfalls ...the  tropical  jungle bordering the  gorge  :  rife  with  high pitched sounds  of    insect cicadas    : a  crescendo  first then decrescendo : all  in  unison ...the  remoteness complete  with  overcast  conditions  & a   steady  drizzle  adding   to  the  thrill  ,  as  we  hurtled  downstream  the  current  even  stronger  ...8'S  latitude  Lesser  Sunda  Archipelago  is  a  gem  of  Indonesia .... the  Pacific ring  of  fire ...the Volcanoes  and  its Lava  fields  of  Mt Batur ....the  fertile  volcanic  landscapes  with  Dragon fruits  ubiquitous &  so is  the aroma of Durian fruit ...the  vulcanic  ash  ,  the  hot  water  Geyser  from the  underground  a  soothing  balm .....the  rains  greeted  us  copiously  as the Jeep  snaked  its  way up  hill the  vulcanic  landscape ...as we inhaled  the  cool  moist  ,  breeze , partially drenched  ,  the  Huge  water  body  of  the Lake  visible  downhill now , as  the UNESCO GEO  Site welcomed us  : a  Lava  field , : mute testimony  of a massive eruption of yesteryears , the  Sunset  point  at  our feet  ....atop  Mt  Batur ....

By  default  we  reached  here  as a stopgap arrangement  in  lieu of Swiss Alps  first &  Drakensberg Ranges  of SA both  of  which  eluded  us  for  delayed  visa  approvals &  had  to  be  kept on  hold   ...August  Sept Zurich  Interlaken sector, followed  by  the fabled Jungfrau region in  the Swiss Alps  with Matterhorn peak  high  on agenda , to  be followed  for  a finale  to St Moritz  , in as  much  the  Villa booking  in Sarnen near Lucerne went abegging ...Let  down  but  not  to be  rundown  !! the RSA  trip finalised with The  Garden & Panorama Routes high on agenda , but Lo ! and behold gets scuttled  due  to  inordinate delay  in  Evisa  approval  which landed  in  the  Inbox on the Day  of Departure !!  , a near impossible  proposition and  further  heart  break ...

Its  often  my experience  , that  unplanned , unscheduled  trips  materialize , and  Indonesia just fitted  into  the  bill with VOA ....!!! : the 12  hr  trip  to  the  Sunda archipelago  from  Mumbai &  Lush green  raw  tropical color  embalmed  us  in  a manner  as rapid  mist  wud  cover u  on a fine  winter  morning in North India ...!!!  

Riding the ATV  bike circuit in the  dense  Jungles with Arnav  in the pillion &  a stellar  performance by Archana  with  Doel in tow  ...!!!...the Circuit was tough  as  the terrain was  rough  with  impediments  strewn as  routine  , the  post  activity Lunch provided  was delicious & we  headed even  deeper & down the multiple Waterfalls  , roaring  &  thundering  under  a  thick canopy of  Tropical lush  ...

This  is  one  place  raw  Nature  is  untouched ; the  Insect  Sound bytes  of  a  crescendo  ubiquitous  ,  a  remoteness  so  much  cherished  far  away  from  the  madding  crowds  of  a  Megapolis  ...!!!

The  Damara  ,  Jonsu &  Emily  Villa  stays  were  fabulous  with entire  villas  to  ourselves  with  a pool  to  relax  after  the days Jaunt , The Grab App  Home delivery a smooth  affair  as  we felt  home  away  from  home  ...

The Moss  laden Ganesha  and  many a  motif in  the  thick  jungles  of  a Monkey Forest , straight  out  of  an Indiana Jones thriller , as we found civilizations  strewn every  nook and corner 

...in  that way  Every  home  in  this  part of  the Archipelago  had  a family Temple first at  the entrance with regular  offerings to  the  deities 

Sea  can't  be far  away  from  us  as we  rode  up  the  cliffs  ,  the breath  taking  Bays with  quaint coffee shops  &  viewing  deck settled  us in  familiar  settings  and  the  sea  activities  including  Paragliding was  the  Icing  on  the Cake  ....!!!! 

A Sea & Lord Hanuman in between .....

 Shubho NaboBorsho greetings  to  all !!!

There  is  festivity  in  the  air  ...the  brisk  walk  back to home  post  Clinic tells it all... there is  definitely a sprightly  gait now negotiating  the  puddles like a striker  with  the  ball , a heart loaded  with  expectancy :  of  a barrage  of  well wishers  wishing : a spl day  in  the  Bongo calendar : Pohela Boishakh :  The Bangla  New  yr ....

...the peace shattered   in  the  wee  hrs  as  the cell  phone   is flooded  with  msgs  from  the  fish  vendor of IIT  Mkt @ Powai Mumbai , the  Choicest Bengali  fishes  are  available ...definitely  for the occasion !!

Alas, the Sea & Lord Hanuman straddling in ur path ....Tuesday  is Lord Hanuman  Day, strictly  Vegetarian will  be  the fare, & the Sea separating the Isles & the Indian Mainland ...

Certain things r diligently  followed since childhood ,part of  ur  upbringing ...."Tuesday"..... to name a  few 

The Customary obeisance to elders in  the  New  year , the fun filled  get togethers & a plethora of dishes from Ma's kitchen laced  with her indefatiguable labour  & Luv....!!!

Not  to  forget  the  rendition  of  Bangla poems  & Rabindra Sangeeth  were the major highlights  of  the  New  year ....!!!

 

A bond Long Established .....

....the daily  walk  to the  Health Unit for sustaining  Morn & Eve Clinic & Subsequent return back to base , comes to a grinding  halt on Holiday  Friday as  the day  is laid back , the  muscles  recovering , the  routine  broken ....

The Holy  mnth of Ramadaan is closer to  its  culmination , as Eid festivities will  pervade the isles : a pearl in  the  Indian Ocean ...

The Mercury  soaring as Closer we  come  to  the  Sun , unshakable is the faith  of the  faithfuls ....the  Evenings relaxed as the Sun Goes  down , gentle sea  breeze sweeping  the  Isles ....

Thr is a flurry of activity socially , as  ,  we  frnds  reunited  recently  in  the  Centennary  celebrations of  Alma Mater and the online interactions now even in real time ....

Nothing  changed ....Nothing  has changed ....Nothing  will  change  ....the  fundamentals  of  a  foundation  too  strong ....Lucky  to  be  in touch  with  old  folks & even  more  lucky  to  meet newer people  day  in  &  day  out  professionally ....wht an  opportunity Gud Lord  Provides , a fulfillment , a treasure trove of  Experience of a Life time : ever expanding & 

growing  ....the  Health  Post a High altar : a bond : long established .....!!!!

Centenary & Reunion Patna Medical College

February 1985 we sailed into PMCH . The sailboat, of a young heart, throbbing and beaming  with enthusiasm and a feeling of accomplishment well writ on our faces....A premier institution and an alumnus of formidable  repute...

Feb 25 th 1925 Sir Henry Wheeler ,Governor of Bihar & Orissa innaugurated the College ,to commemorate the visit of  then Prince of Wales Edward .

Yesterday , we celebrated the Centenary . & those young hearts  with dream laced eyes met again , having reached  their milestone, of a whale of a career,  that  of  the  Medical doctor  ...!!! 

24 the Centenary eve : the 1984 batch met  , of  which I was a proud stakeholder....

The batch met at Kautilya hall of  the  famous Maurya Hotel  for a Luncheon : Reunion 

As I was onboard , AI 0673, with Archana airdashing to reach  on  time  from Mumbai to Patna , a cascade  of  thoughts deluged  me : the entry  into  the  haloed Institution & Exit  upon Pass  out ...the time slipped  out  thru  our  fingers , the memories stronger  than  before  ....as  if  it  was  yesterday ....

The  flt delved deeper after a momentuous height, the  thought  process  shattered  by  the announcement  for  securing  ourselves…the Cup of Tea delayed  now   &  the  wait to land  agonising  ....

Did I  inform  them  that I was  coming  with Archana  in tow  ? ...Yes  I  did  inform my Boarding status 

Did I tell them to  wait  for  me ? .....the  intervening 33yrs an impediment ....Yes  I did  inform ...thn why I am so anxious , a slight shudder engulfed  me momentarily ....The slumber  of  Rip  Van  winkle  is  finally  over , lots  of  water  have  flown  thru  the Ganges  ,  the  Ganges  receding  further from our Alma Mater , What if I am unrecognizable ?...Wht If I cant recognize a few of us ? ...Wht if I am not Endeared by all ?

The thoughts  shattered  again  as the  Landing  Gear  hit  the  tarmac as I am back again in  the Chosen Land   !!!

The Baggage belt was a gem of a Tortoise and my regular glance  at the  wrist watch  & Archana's countenance aggravated  matters  further ....then Gunjan Called , Arun Singh called & the cab driver with my name board flashing was right  in front....A sense of belonging to  this good  old  city  of  mine  seeped in  quickly  into  my  veins , a city where I spent two decades of youthful Life....the Islander in me , so used to remoteness & now loneliness ,missed a beat or two ....a sense of gratitude engulfed me as I am not forsaken or forgotten ...

The Patna traffic   put a spanner near Maurya as we scampered post Checkin into Chanakya whr  we were lodged and a brisk usher into Kautilya hall of the fabled Maurya Hotel with fine strains of music emanating wherein the batchmates had congregated....I thought , paused , pushed the door gently as for a moment  which appeared like ages I was transfixed as a pure Foreign entity , but only fleeting seconds I guess , & as the Holy river  merges  into  the Sea ,I immersed myself in the camaraderie of Long lost frnds : the Rejuvenation was so rapid &  fast , as I met everyone with equal zeal & fervour .....the Lunch was just a prop : the attention rivetted:  as Rip Van Winkle  brushes  his  dusty  coat  , donning  the  shinning armour of  the  infectious  smile .....gliding seamlessly onto the  vortex  of  time , striking the right cords  and  notes ....

Amazed at the seamless interactions as if  nothing  had  changed , the quick acqueisance to the music corner where  Shyam  had  so  nicely  arranged occupying effortlessly  the  position & the voice flowed in  abandon....tht sealed  the uncertainty to a Certain Confidence of  being  amongst  your  own frnds whose round of applause definitely  is  the Elixir of Life.....!!!!

As  we  shifted to nxt level of a River Cruise in  the Ganges   with  High Tea & Snacks : it appeared  to  be  the  icing  on  the Cake  ....the  gentle breeze , the lazing around  in the river , music  & dance , a grand finale  to  the  Reunion where  we promised to meet again  ....!!!

 

....The Transit into Time ....

 

....Day  in  &  Day  out  ....Exit  &  Entry  ....People  Come  &  Go  ....In  one  moment  you  are  a part  &  parcel &  in another  parted  ....the  Consult  seat  is Occupied  ...the  ailment  being  dealt  ....the  pathos  & ethos of  the  Occupant  all  well heard  ...a  formulation Concocted  & a much  needed service  rendered  ...the  process  of involvement  into a foreign  situation  pertaining  to  the  Occupant :  now  ur  own  as  u  render  the  service  with  all  hope  &  prayer  to  the almighty ....as if  a movie  scene is  on  ....then , in a moment Consigned  to  the past  : The Transit  into  time  ....the  short  span : the  present  :  a  fleeting  moment  now  ....as people get attached  &  detached ...the  moment  surreal ...the  gain temporary &  the  Loss  permanent ....the reduction to  a thought  of  a  machine  ...the  machine  like  precision of a  delivery forcefully imposed  ....as  we  fade  into  the  vortex of  time  ....

But  then  again  the eastern board  is  lit  up  again ...the  Coolwaters  of  the morn  sea simmering ...its  Dawn ...the Sun  wud  rise again , inject  a sense of belonging  &  fruitfulness , the dinghys  swaying &  the  Birds soaring ...the  purposefulness of  a  permanency now  well  writ  as u  have to  get  ur act  together  ....however  transient ......the  Chimera of  Timelessness to  be felt  again  ....!!!!

...The faithful.....

.....The finite will glide into infinity....nd  its  a   matter  of   time....yet  the  Sun  wud  rise everyday emanating  its   warm   rays of sustenance ,ushering   into the  Day of positivity ,driving humanity to a  march  of  continuity....with the setting  Sun ,yet another day consummated....of human endeavour  & achievements

....consigned to the vortex of history....the passage   of  time   ...the journey to infinity....the  rootlessness  as  you are  drawn  into  the  vortex of timelessness......in  unison  with  Mother Nature as one wud gasp & grasp holding her tight into oblivion.....

...The timeless  Sun & its  Exaltation to  the  highest altar of reverence  amongst  the  Faithfuls : Mortals , in abject Surrender  in  ablution to the constant  source of  Energy  &  Positivity......as Dusk will prevail .... heralding the Salutations.....a cord & note  is  struck :of a showering  of the Blessings of  the  Omnipotent & Omniscient until the Break of  Dawn .....!!!!!

   

The Beckoning Sahyadris....

The Ravines Of Sahyadris are fresh  in  memory, difficult  to  Shrug  it  off  as  it  Revisits in the  mind's eye...the detours beeseeching  & its  a matter  of  time  only  till we proceed....As  the Festive  months  wearOn ,  there  is allround gaiety, as the first  step  to  Homeland yet again for  the  Umpteenth time will  continue shortly   ....the  unmistakable  sprightly gait as you trudge  briskly on  the  heavily carpetted  Airport out  of  the  Aircraft , dashing  towards Immigration  Arrivals...the  feeling inexplicable...the spirit soaring  high like a falcon in its  own territory...a  girdle  of Majestic  Hills, Ravines  , Gorges...the air  enbalming  many a  tired spirit  .....!!!!