Love at First Dip!

Yes from now on I can call myself a trekker. Surprised? 

I did my first full day trek! Even after a week I can feel the breathtaking moments flashing through my nerves as I write. 

Nagala North East One day Easy Trek!

I took it up as a friend just invited me. Vishal said start from easy ones. Thats when I decided yes I am taking my first step in this path. The begining of being a traveller, a trekker, a fighter!

I should thank Mr. Ponpandi for the musical ride in the morning. Bearing the unbearable stink near the tollgate taught me Tolerance. The travel resumed and we reached the foothills of Nagala only by early noon. The sun had no mercy to spare us. He was fully in love with our presence that he showered his rays like the fire dragon! 

The trek began with a few kilometers of steadfast walk with talks of getting to know each other. Stocked with lemons and water to fight dehydration I started to trek. Having been into fitness regime for a few days, I thought an easy trek would be a cake walk. Well I did have my adversity points to face before I got the feeling that the trek was actually easy. The first four to five kilometers of hike to the stream was actually a test of my willpower. I stopped twice at the verge of giving up and had to push every obstacle in my heart with one single thought that the stream is near by and it's going to be heavenly. 

When I found small ponds on the way to the stream I jumped! I filled water to help me through my way. And every time I wanted to give up I pushed further and further. Finally we reached the stream! Ah that one heavenly moment in life. 

Head to Toe burning like Fire

Legs and Hands worn out in Tire

Eyes searching for a place to retire

I jumped into the gleaming stream 

With heart pumping Joy a Scream!

And all at once felt like living a Dream!

I felt like a child so comfortable and secure inside the mother's womb. I am reminded of a long read write up about mother's womb to be the most secure place by the way of conversation between two unborn babies where one asks about life after birth and one answers that it's that only the womb is safe and comfortable and so on...

This world is the womb that my mother gifted me tearing hers apart. This womb is a heaven to be explored till we breath and pass to what we don't know is next! 

Thinking across in these lines I uttered the words of poetry to my trek mate Vanathi.. 

பனிக்குடம் சொர்க்கமென்று மீண்டும் உணர்ந்தேன்..

ஆயிரம் முறை அம்மா என்றழைத்தேன்..

எனை மறந்து இயற்கையில் கலந்தேன்..

இன்னீர்க் குளத்தில் நனைந்து நெகிழ்ந்தேன்.. 

வளைந்தோடும் ஆற்றில் களைப்பார அமர்ந்தேன்..

களைப்பெல்லாம் மறக்க மிடுக்கென நடந்தேன்..

வலி எல்லாம் சலித்துப் போக

காவியங்கள் கலித்த வீரானாய் ஆனேன்! 

Feeling the greatness of nature in its every bit I trekked further heights to the silver showers, tested my fears of swimming without rope and felt accomplished. It felt like I should do have such experiences again and again in life. As I trekked I did fall once or twice, I walked alone tracing paths, fighting fear and laziness. It was an amazingly euphoric experience to feel your will pop out like the beautiful water in the hills and experience it in its raw beauty to the fullest! 

I wish we trekked back the same way though the lazy part of me wanted to walk and not climb. It was fun walking back. It was fun talking stories, meeting new faces, motivated minds and relish the wonder of mutual existence and unity. To share and to lend hands of care! It was an over all wonderful first dip into the raw beauty of everything that was created for this baby of earth to enjoy in this Womb! 

Enjoying inside the Womb of Mother Nature,

Love and life filled to the brim, 

A story shared with love, 

Sarah.

Realizing the Realities of Life! #CTC

Realizing the Realities of Life! #CTC

Dear Readers, 

Help me to walk you through an Elated Ever-cherish-able Experience...It makes me want to Live every moment as If it is happening for the First time and the Only Best Time. 

Every First experience is considered the most special of all. First walk, First Talk, First Kiss, First Snow, First date, First Poetry... the list of first experiences in life is endless. 

The beauty of a first experience is that its new and its makes us feel excited and happy at the best. We become aware of each and every happening of that first experience so that we get to know it to the fullest. Some of such experiences are gained after a great toll of effort and time spent on waiting to have that one awesome moment in life. The First always stays close to the heart no matter what and affects us in a great way. 

​                           

Similar is a First trek. A very special one where numerous unknown faces became familiar in a night. A vivid experience that would stay close to the heart forever. Though the trek was intended to have a break from mundane work life and have some time to cherish and relate with the nature, to me it was not a break from work. It was an experience that gave me time to pull myself to be a better person and a better professional. A time that was spent on self-introspection. I started late after work. A long ride with a dear friend in the chill dark city outskirts took me to the most awaited first Night camp and Trek. I have always enjoyed the dearness of Darkness and the Wonders of Silence. I become like the Kungfu-Panda holding on to the Inner Peace Mudra. Infact, I did feel the Inner-Piece Standing on the Junction of 3 Roads in the Middle of the Night.

​                                Wonderful Morning Sunrise

Late night walk along the forlorn streets with a friend took me through various vivid moments of our lives. Silence, Loneliness, Darkness and Chillness- A palate of Afreshment. An exuberant combination of Espirited moments.  Late night Poetry Writing.. Wow I must say that is the most amazing feeling ever at a night in a place like Kumali. It felt like all the drunken emotions of the day were flowing through my hands into 'Conversations in Darkness and Silence'. As I wrote I listened to beautiful voices singing a soothing music. It felt like a heavenly doubled up. I completed my poetry and hit my Yoga mat like a kid that got tired of playing around- Tired and drowsy.

           Had Dinner is like Family get together ​(Plate ah Maranthutomea :P

I slept off like a small kid waiting to doze off. The ground felt like a bed of roses though it was cold and rough. I was awakened by the chill weather. Sleeplessness- the favourite moments to a Writer! It is a boon to be insomniac for a Writer.
I woke up back on shoes by 04:00 in the morning to find an forlorn zone for attending a call from below :P One of a few brave solo moments in darkness I have ever witnessed. Finishing which gave an immense satisfaction of accomplishment that I had took over my fear. As I walked back to my bed I smiled.
With that little happy moment I walked to a few new friends whom I met the day before and Woke them up from their Sleepless sleep. Getting to have a bunch of friends to wake up with and have a full dose of smiles and laughter, is the best way to start a great day. In fact, that is when the momentum of the week-day trek caught me. Its been almost 10 days since the Trek and I work like a fully loaded AK47, Full of energy and Will backed up from enchanted moments of one night and an early morning. 

​                        DUM Briyani waiting for seize it :-)

As we woke up, we started the fire for making Tea and Coffee. The Fire preparation were the moments of spirited thoughts I must say. I was in a similar state like that of the left over charcoal from the night's Camp-fire. The heat was still there but the burning glow was put off. Like we added small twigs and blew air into it, I wanted a few small dosage of positivity and confidence to lit the fire inside me. During that Week not just the Fire for Tea lit up but also was the Fire to Achieve in me. Every minute spent with nature speaks some learning or other that shows the way of Life to us.
When everyone had their refreshing MAGGI MASALA coffee and light Tea, We started off for our Trek. It was my very first Trek experience. Full of energy, enthusiasm and excitement. As we reached the bottom of the hill I picked up a small Neem twig to Brush like my ancestors did, It taught me to bare bitterness and assimilate it. We moved up in the hill. The trail was full of stones and thorns, similar is Life, A trail of Thorns and Stones, walking past which one reaches a peak where there is Bliss. To reach the peak and to stay there after finding a meadow to rest and look around- is the perfect life everyone of us Aim at. However, reaching that state is not possible when we stay in our cosy couch or a flowery bed. Be it our Career, family, spirituality or anything, Everything has a various stages to go through with various difficulty levels customized to each one of Us. We are given the choice to take hold of our actions and the power to handle its consequences. Facing life is not only in the path we take but also in how we see it. Perhaps the trail in my First trek was stony and thorny. To my eyes it was excitement and happiness. I chose to walk through it and I was ready to face the tireless and injuries that may occur. This is the Rule of Life. "To own thy actions and the Effects thereafter".
As I walk along with my thoughts about life and its essence taught by the Nature around, I had a bunch of everlasting memorable moments of meaningless and meaningful conversations with a variety of people. Stunning a few and Stunned by a few- It was absolute awesomeness! 

​              Pambu Padam Yeadukuma!!

I sweat, I fell, I slipped, I ran, but I never stopped till I was there at the peak. Remember not to stop when little obstacles block your way, the voice of my heart echoes. As we reached the top, the awesomeness doubled up. Adding fun to the moment I became a DJ for a while playing songs to my new friends. Discussing food, Movies and Music with an unknown guy who had a reflection of a deep personality in his Face, the return was a cake-walk. It was a great feeling to find someone with a similar taste as Mine. He said he is a wedding planner, Never tried to Know more. The trek ended as we Parted ways, He to his world of Work and me to my Swim.

             Oru Malai Malamela Yaeri Paduthuduchi :-P​

After the Trek a bunch of friends went to the nearest Open-Water, I tried to swim, to overcome the fear that stops me. After the refreshing Swim I got back to Work, as the person with more confidence and positivity.
Gratitude is the feeling I share to the people who people like me have the chance to experience of the realities of Life by relating to Mother Nature. Thanks to Chennai Trekkers Club #CTC and to all those special friends who made the moments the most memorable. Awaiting to go further in this journey that helps in Finding a better me.. this is not the End but a Cool Beginning! 

Conversations with Silence and Darkness....

Strolling Leisurely with a Friend by my Side..

Walking on an Unconquered trail on a misty stride
I knew my start.... Route to which faded as I walk
I knew no end...Nor path to the perfect end...
As I walk a streak of fear peeps into my nerves
Darkness an unknown peril or a pleasure
The cold-a comfort or a sign of impending predicament
As I walk with patience familiarity bred
The fear receded into the cold air.

To an unknown destiny... Toes on a tick tock....
Senses became receptive... Music began...
The music of creation the music of survival!
Creaking insects, frogs... Don't they ever doze?
Black paintings all around walled in the air.
Tall guardsmen, performing artist, dancing joyful artists…
Breezing all around.
They were giant paintings brushed by the master…
I stand like a spec amidst them.

Are they wondering who I am?
Are they trying to pass a message?
Are they on a household routine...?
Am I a visitor a passerby or an intruder?
As I walk past silly meaningless inquisitiveness.
I stand there in absolute darkness at crossroads.
Going back to where I began is a past
Moving on in my way could be a used trail.
Taking a new path could be an adventure.

Where should I go? Where will I go?

What is in store? The purpose Unknown.
I stand there questing the inner self?
Is companionship a compulsion?
Is achievement imperative?
Engulfing the Unanswered questions.
Locking into a vault inside
Running across a flash of memories.

I walk back to the start point.
To give one more chance
To not look back and to move my way
To create a path and not search one
To create a destiny instead finding one
To be in today... Learnt from yesterday...
Visualized a tomorrow... Living the moment.
To be the writer of the book of my life.
I sat back to write this journey of the self. 

Purpose- not formed but gets framed.
Starting a journey into a dreamy land, 
I lay back and stare at the Black Blanket, 
Walking into another conversion with the Twinkles!
We shared eye Talks.. Asking my Questions,
Like a star dust wanting them to drop the Answers, 
Mesmerized I lay in the beauty of Nature, 
And the Tiredness of the Body, 
My Vision Sank into a Silent Sleep...

Searching a Purpose,
Love
Sarah