Saturday, October 4, 2008

Visapur Trek – 2nd Oct’08







Visapur Trek – 2nd Oct’08 – Gandhi Jayanti Trek to VISAPUR







DISCLAIMER
I write this blog out of passion, Incase I have hurted anyone in this Blog I simbly don’t care, I use all slang languages everywhere possible in case you don’t like it then why the F are you reading it just FO . . I want all of you who read this blog to leave comments below . . . I know there are lot of grammatical errors in case you find errors please don’t bother to inform me just correct it in your mind and continue reading you ass ! In case you can’t correct in your mind you are worse than me F###er
AKER SOLUTIONS IS NOT A TREKKING ORGANISER ALSO

Ok done with disclaimer let me start about the Trek of Visapur

Scene 1:-
Its been a fuc#### long wait and the old timers of White Smoke Trekkers have been dying for the next trek soon the last we made it to Kothilgad on 15th Aug’08, Finally after a long wait we all decided for the next trek to VISAPUR on 2nd Oct’08

I was just wandering that we almost had all the Trek’s on National Holidays specially many of these days have been on “DRY DAY” I was wondering why is this happening, BUT YES I GOT TO KNOW WHY . . . . . For all those who know Prashant (That same guy who singing “Mumbai Ki Chori’ ka song in the bus”) This Prashant one of trek to Rajmachi dropped a WHOLE QUARTER OF VODKA RIGHT IN FRONT OF the RAILWAY POLICE GAURDS . . . so from that day decided that in case we have any treks on holidays It has be a “DRY DAY” . . .So in short we don’t have Prashant dropping VODKA bottle’s in front of the POLICE MEN

The planning for 2ns Oct was on for almost 2-3 weeks where the short listing for the trekking location was on, the group finally zeroed down on Visapur

This was the first time we arranged a BUS, we usually believe in trekking the desi way public/local transport but based on Prasad’s (Vishwanath) research on the location we finally decided to hire a bus it actually made a lot of difference in terms of comfort level and helped bonding in the team

For the first time we had a group of 27 trekkers (Arpita couldn’t make it for the trek but she ensured we felt her presence by sending her good friend now my good friend also Vishal – He loves to be called Govinda)

Scene 2 : The Trek Day

I was supposed to send a report to my office on 1st Oct nite as usual around 1130PM Mr Ashok was there online on G Talk and we where chatting till 2 AM on 2nd Oct . . . . . The IMPACT OF THIS can be seen soon

The Bus was scheduled to leave Borivali at 5:45 AM and I had kept my alarm at 4:30 AM , I missed my alarm but luckily Prashant my good WST friend called me 5:05 AM and I rushed to the bathroom so that I don’t miss the bus, luckily I was on dot on schedule

BUT the impact on the late night chat with Ashok was there we had to wait for him for almost 30 mins at Andheri making us run behind schedule , Ashok next time don’t be online on the day before the trek you will land up late night on bed if you get me on chat

Though Ashok made it late we then had to start our hunt for the driver God know’s why he did the disappearing act, Maybe he had gone to some temple praying to God please let Ashok come fast

Now Prashanth and me decided lets call Smith and tell I (Glenn) has not yet come . . . Prashanth plotted this idea very well, I almost received 15+ missed calls from her (This made me realized how much she misses me though she denies it every time, I could feel it smitha but) but her sister spoiled the plan as usual, Im not able to plot a successful prank on these colonial sisters, it backfires me THEY KNOW MY WEAKNESS
(Smitha in case you didn’t like the line above Im sure you read the Disclaimer)

Almost all of us got into the bus at Sion station; I was taken by surprise when Jayanthi madam joined us for the trek though the list was out but didn’t strike me heard her lot about madam through Preetha

When Smitha joined us at Sion she immediately started her TC act of collecting and counting the money with Srinivas

All where on BOARD, We started our journey as usual with DUMBSHERA

The new comers in the WST where all thrilled to see our Prashanth act in the DumbShera

We took our tea break at the Food mall at Express highway around 9:00 AM the moment we reached there Vishwanath spotted a Big large grasshopper and we all where rounding up there to have a glimse , Lights and Camera’s where focused on the Grasshopper, The insect was so glad to see the WST team and it gave us wonderful poses

We ordered for Misal Pav, Idli Sambhar and Tea it was first time the hotel was handling such a big order

But by now we where all supposed to move BUT Jayanthi mam already kept everyone glued to her she was all already giving out her management gyan at the b/d table everyone was just hearing her out THE ETERNAL TEACHER I must say
( Jayanti Maam urf Jolly – We the WST are so happy to have you as part of the team), I literally had to drag everyone out from the class session since we where getting late

Unfortunately before reaching Visapur, Vishwanath had to rush back to Mumbai for some personal reasons (Vishwanath – We missed you buddy)

We reached the base of Visapur at 10:30 AM , We all gathered for an introduction session but there was ONE member missing Guess who else Govinda ( Very true with Bollywood Govinda also I heard he reaches late on the SET) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………ha dotted line shows Govinda has come after some time we now started with our introduction session. . . .This time we didn’t we didn’t mention which animal we associate ourselves with since we realized that we are one of the worst animals on this planet ……………. The HUMAN BEING (Nature knights we stopped copying you )

This time Pradeesh was missing our Ace photographer (Actually he ain’t ace photographer just because he has a DSLR the photos accidentally come good), SO WHAT IF PRADEESH WAS NOT THERE . . . . . . . . Liz was there na with her SLR (She is definitely a good photographer unlike Pradeesh)
[Pradeesh – Please read my Disclaimer, Liz – You needn’t read disclaimer now I will tell you when]

Scene – Trek UP

As you all are educated and surely you know the rainy season is over and obviously the climate would be hot in the morning despite of all this factors we the WST belive in trekking all season , We are planning to Trek during the summers we shall post you on the SUMMER TREK’s ( During summer trek with WST NO water / caps and googles will be allowed, those who survive this trek will be get all sponsored trek to Leh and Ladhak during the winters there
Conditions – You will be sent to Leh and Ladhak with the same clothing you wear for the Summer Trek) Im sure you must have started liking WST now (NO ADENTURE GROUP can you offer you such excitement in life)

Now we hired a professional guide there in Visapur (We just ensured he is not like the same rascala the one we found in Rajmachi, for the benefits of others who couldn’t join us for the Rajmachi trek please read the blog available on whitesmoke-google groups)

YAWNNNNNNN – Im bored of writing so much stuff now but I will continue to write , now you see how much effort im putting to write all this and you guys are enjoying reading , its 1:20 AM Sunday im listening to FM and wring this blog OK now lets back enough of self pity

OK , Now as we started moving up VIDYA SERRAO one of the youngest and bubbly gal and newest member of WST was taking break every step, she was telling why isn’t there a elevator like in a MALL [ We need such people in IBM who think Innovative, IBM believes in INNOVATION, what a prestige to have people like Vidya in IBM not sure why is she wasting her energy in the synergy of OFS ]
[Vidya time for you to read my Disclaimer]

Because of Vidya slow moments our most energetic and old time member Preetha fainted below with Vidya innovative ideas, it took us a while to get her back to senses [Vidya time for you to read my Disclaimer AGAIN]

I also understood from Ashok that our Govinda happened to drop his bag on our Trek up and his mobile slipped in a bush which LIZ noticed and gave it back to him . . . . . . . . BUT LIZ realized that why did she gave the mobile back . . . . . . PLEASE don’t think LIZ wanted to flick the mobile BUT our Govinda took this opportunity to put his full impression on LIZ . . . .Govinda claimed that he has TWO mobiles with 150 numbers each in his mobile he was very thankful to LIZ and told her how happy he was to get the mobile back . . Govinda then continued to pakav LIZ all way long . . . .Also Govinda because of the mobile connection managed to sneak in all the snaps clicked on LIZ SLR [Govinda time for you to read my Disclaimer]

Now we all trekked up and finally reached the TOP

We had a lovely couple also Daksh and Shruti doing the couple trek with WST, very nice to see both of them enjoying their romantic trek hand in hand with their lovely sister Urvi [ Daksh, Shruti & Urvi neednt read disclaimer since I don’t like pulling family leg on blog’s]

Many of them busy taking pics of the ruins

Jayanti maam, Prasanth, Govinda and me managed to get a ROCK ON snap of ours






We then reached the top around 2:30 PM everyone shared their lunch like an happy family, I loved those Theplas , Boiled Corns , cheese sandwich . . . . it was YUM and filling

We then moved to check out the panoramic surrounding of Visapur

We then clicked Group snap on the step

We started our trek down around 3:30 PM

Scene 3

The trek down was the most best moments which Jayanti madam liked in the whole trek and that inspires her to come for the next trek’s going forward all of you should be knowing WHY? by this time [Prashanth stop blushing]

We finally reached the base around 530PM

We had over evening tea and snacks below

We had our feedback session but Prashant was still blushing
We left from Visapur and halted at lonavala at 7:00 PM for some more snacks and few of them picked up chikki and other stuff

Scene 4

This was the best part of the whole trek

We started Antakshari everyone participated, Prashanth was already in cloud 9 ( this was only after the trek down)

During antakshari we realized that Ashok was one of the greatest singer he had had all the songs for the barakadis in the hindi language. . Filmy saala

Vishal sathe kept us entertained with his Shivaji pulling each ones leg

Especially when it came to me I like the song “


- Thanks to all of YOU for making this trek a wonderful trek
- AO to white smoke trekkers

Special thanks to one and all for making this moment a special one

Vish - For arranging on the logistics
Prashanth - For giving personalized treatment to only few
Vishal Patil - For playing his mouth organ
Harsheel - Calling his GF’s from my mobile (I saved her number, Thanks)
Ruturaj -
Urvi -
Daksh & Shruti - Lovely couple
Vishal Govinda - Full of energy For his jokes
Arpita - For missing the trek and introducing Govind to WST
Vishal Sathe - For his Shivaji song
Ashok - During antakshari
Smitha Pillai -
Elizabeth JacobLIZ – SLR
Vidya Serrao -
Deepu Sadashivan -
Sreela Menon
Bharat Madan - For making it on time
Avinash Jadon - For ensuring Bharat was on time
Milind Meher - For getting the water from the fountain
Jayesh Gaikar -
Smitha - Can think of anything write one for you?
Preetha - Stop fainting you weak female
Srinivas Gundlapelli -
Vishal S -
Divya Rao - Call my EA to book my calendar for shooting
Chandrashekhar L -
Jayanti Das - Prashant will write this part

Monday, August 4, 2008

White Smoke Trekkers - Rajmachi - 2nd Aug'o8


Gang of Boys ( 14)
Avinash J, Avinash H, Bharat, Biji, Glenn, Harshit Imran, Malik, Milind, Nitin, Prashanth, Pradeesh, Vishwanath, Vishal



Part I – The Burning Train - 1st Aug’08

After almost 2 weeks of planning, hundreds of mail exchange and numerous
fanatic phone calls finally the day arrived - 2nd August 2008 - our first
night trek. The scenic rajamachi fort around 150kms away, from the concrete
Mumbai, we were all set to conquer it.


As per the original plan we all were supposed to meet at CST station at 9:00
PM sharp, to board a train to Lonavala, but plans are meant to be not followed. And we being no different did exactly the same.

But yes Avinash did stick to the plan and was there at CST at 8:00, nope don’t come to conclusions here - he is not punctual, just that his college was around the corner.Malik started calling me from 7:00 PM when should we leave for CST, I was still in office since Prashant secretly told me we catching the last train at 11:35 PM, Actually Malik was feeling the pressure from Avinash since that poor chap was alone at CST

I left my house at 10:00 PM and met Imran at Bandra station at 1030 and we reached Churchgate station at 11:10 PM, We then caught a taxi to CST and reached there by 11:20 PM

Was trying to reach out to Prashant & Vishwanath on their cell but they where busy somewhere else eating J

NOW Listen to the best part:-
Everyone (12 members) met at CST at DOT 11:30 PM

NOBODY had booked their tickets

The ticket counter was closed and the last train to Lonavala was there on the platform

11:32 PM we rush to the closed ticket counter and requested the counter to give us tickets, he said he cannot provide us with tickets since we will miss the train but somehow we managed to bargain with him and he gave us the tickets

11:34 PM We staring running towards the train which was on the 15th platform, Prashant the great was running like Michael Jordan and dropped a ½ kamba of white mischief right on the platform where the railway police guards where seated (Right in front of them) His balls where in his mouth, He was lucky that the police men didn’t stop him

11:34:45 PM at the nick of time we all managed to board the Train

Mr. Avniash Jadon was at Dadar station now we didn’t know whether the train will halt at Dadar and we requested him to drop off or come to Kalyan . Poor fellow was saying he wanted to come, then we started confirming with other fellow passengers and they said it might stop at Dadar and the train did stop at Dadar and we had Avinash too

Phew!! ! I loved this part of the trek isn’t it one of the best!! ?


Part II : Train Journey

We parked our bags on the racks and; half of the group was on Top berth and the remaining below

To kill time we decided to play Dumbshera, we had some excellent musicians who had brought their Flute along, you would have wished if you where born deaf because these 2 Vishwanath and Vishal where just too good with the flute, I don’t know how good they play their guitars though they claim to play it the best

As we continued playing Dumbshera turn by turn and when it was Prashanth’s turn we all had gone crazy he almost picked up everyone from the group and asked us to break up their name to reach out to some conclusion but finally we realized that it still didn’t match the movie name and we where just laughing and laughing but finally we did manage to get the right movie

The other group always targeted me since I was bad in dumb-shera but hey guys I have improved every time. .. . .

We had a lovely time playing dumb-shera and we reached Lonavala station at 2:15 AM

We all off boarded the train and we all posed for a Group Photo

Part III – The night at Lonavala Platform

As the plan was for a night trek the moment we stepped out of Lonavala station it was raining heavily and it was dark with no street lights and directions so we decided that we to spend the night at Lonavala station and then move towards Rajmachi early morning

We moved back to one of the platform and parked our bags on the vacant benches on the platform; few of us took some nap around

It was raining continuously with cool wind blowing, the sounds of the Train engines making it impossible for most of us to get a decent nap


And also the ladies cloak room was filled with men in the station and it was stinking!!


I was trying to get some nap but on the other side of the bench were Bharat and Pradesh discussing music and some blah blah, suddenly after some time I could hear the sound of camera click’s “Oh God this Pradesh was out with his sax toy and once again into his lustful act of clicking snaps” he also clicked few snaps of mine in the sleeping pose at the platform (I hope he doesn’t use some photography trick and show me sleeping with someone else)

Was unable to get sleep so got up and started listening to some music from Bharat’s ipod

Most of us where unable to get a decent but Bharat had a good nap around 5:00 AM

We gathered at 5:00AM over Tea and had some biscuits along with it

Part IV: - Our first step towards Rajmachi – 2nd Aug- 6:00 AM

Around 6:00 AM we decided to head towards Rajmachi from Lonavala , the moment we stepped out of the station it started raining very heavily and all with our bags we where drenched from head to toe

Some of them didn’t carry wind cheater and umbrellas luckily 2 of us had an extra umbrella but it was of little use
We walked for almost for ½ hr and halted under some shelter near the bus stop we could see a canteen there and went there

The waiter was confused soul we asked for Vada sambar he says that’s not there , Idli sambar got over some few where lucky to get others like me landed for the Missal Pav

We picked up some plastic bags and had our clothes packed into it since otherwise our clothes would have got drenched in the bag itself

We started heading towards Rajmachi around 7:00 AM once again we kept moving we crossed the Mumbai Pune Express highway from below and head towards the valley

After sometime we came across a broken monument we started clicking photos it had a big river around very gooood scenic beauty

A little ahead we halted at a water fall where some of them had a nice bath under the water fall and Pradeesh once again removed his Toy out and started his photography session

The topless dudes where all posing for Mr Gladracs from top and all where looking Studs

The trail was awesome greenery all around and we could breathe the fresh O2

In midst of the trail we came across a lot of small waterfalls, flowers, the sound of waterfalls, and just greenery all around


Around 12 we came across a small river where we had halted for a Tea Break and once again Vishwanath, Milind and Vishal where busy bathing, Vishwanath was like a kid just lying in the water.

We had also asked the Tea Stall guy to arrange food once we Trek down Rajmachi fort
We all posed for the photos but the poor localite used to always shake the camera after he clicked and finally one of us had to reclick the photo

In the whole journey from the start Avinash, Biji and me where always behind the group its because we where gossiping of the good old days, You must listen to Biji stories it was hilarious ( P.S - We where trailing behind because you will never see a shepherd leading the group from ahead)

The trail was never meeting the end and where wandering when are we gonna see RAJMAChi fort ( By the way it just striked me I had updated on my Orkut profile as RAJ
_._MA Chi it sounded as if the space over there was Raj KI Ma Chi)

We met a localitie and he said it will take 15 mins to reach the Rajmachi village but it took us an hour ( Looks like this localitie are used to this 15 mins std time , just keep a note on this localite I will let you know what he did us )

We had almost walked 20 KMS

Part V – Trek up to Rajmachi Fort from the village base

It was around 1 PM we reached the Rajmachi village base but Biji , Avinash , Imran , Malik and me where the last one to reach the village base
Seeing the Rajmachi Fort which was on Top of the Hill which 3000 ft high seem impossible for us to walk up but the localite said it you could reach up in ½ hr I was wandering HOW?
But then we had to move since if we would have stopped then it would have been difficult for the legs to keep pace again

We continued moving up and we where getting the feel of the white clouds touching our facing ! The climb up was very cool but the other side was just steep and scary
We could see some children climbing down approx around 100 school kids where there it was nice to see those now days

We reached the top 3000 Feet in a short span of 30 mins and the scene was terrific, beautiful, amazing,

The entrance to the fort had knee deep mucky water for 4-5 meters what a way to enter the fort

We removed some clicks there

We then moved on top of the Rajmachi fort and we could just see clouds around us all the photos just White Background, The scenery was one of the most amazing

The christening of the Group Name started here
Pradesh our ace photographer just uttered looking at the clouds it just looks like White Smoke and the Group will now be name “WHITE SMOKE” amazing name Thanks to Pradeesh Cheeerrrs to White Smoke


We started moving down to the base and near the entrance of the fort Pradesh slipped and his camera had a minor damage though its not a major one at all its repairable

We reached the base around 3:00 AM had our lunch at one of the localite place DAL , Potato sabhji , Roti and Rice AMAZING FOOOD ! !

Everyone had their lunch like good boys silently

Part VI 3:45 Trek towards KARJAT

We hired a local guy for 300 Rs to show us the way to Karjat

Imran , Prashant and me(as usual) walking at our own pace and we in 10 mins we where lost , We screamed AO AO no response , Fuck where are we now didn’t know what to do , Prashant called up Vishwanath but no clue where we have to go

We seen a heard of cows running our direction we gave way to the cows and from behind there was a she shepherd we asked her did you see some group going this way she said yes, She was blushing a lot I thinking Vishwanath had winked her on the way J ha ha ha

We found our way luckily Bharat and Imran waited for us

The trek down to Karjat started becoming difficult it was steep rocky slippery what not ! !

In between this guide said he is going now the Trek to Karjat would be just 30 mins now from here and he went ( Remmember I told you about a locaite who said it just 15 mins to Rajmachi base HE WAS THE SAME FUCKER )

Our legs where badly hammered imagine walking from 6 AM , NO sleep last night ! !

It was getting tough for Biji every moment his shoe which had heavy and high sole was making it more miserable for him

We managed struggled to find our way down to Karjat , Thanks to Bharat and Vishwanath who where using all their brains and thanks to some sensible people who in the past marked the way with White Arrow marks making it easy and safer to feel that we are on the right path

In between we came across a cave I didn’t have the energy to go up there but there was group doing rappelling

Finally around 7:00 PM we reached the Base of Karjat

THIS IS WORLD RECORD ! ! ! 12 HRS from 6am from Lonavala Satation TO Rajmachi TO Karjat in just 12 HRS ! ! ! Almost 60 KMS in Just one DAY ! ! ! !


Cheers to WHITE SMOKE ! ! !





Part VII – Karjat back to Mumbai

We took a 12 seater Auto who literally robbed us he took 250/- for dropping us till Karjat
Some of has bad cuts at some wrong places you must see Bharat’s sexy moves after the trek
We all changed at Karjat station
We caught the train to CST at 830 PM and we all reached home safely

We all reached home safely we very good memories and new friends

CHEERS TO WHITE SMOKE ! ! ! ! ! !