Trip to Chansal Pass and Hatu Peak

"Risin' up, back on the street

Did my time, took my chances

Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet

Just a man and his will to survive

So many times, it happens too fast

You change your passion for glory

Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past

You must fight just to keep them alive”

These lines from ‘Eye of the Tiger’ very much describe my trip to “Chansal Pass” (pronounced Chaan – Shal). The difference was this did not involve Sylvester Stallone and it was not a boxing match but a motorcycle ride. Chansal Pass is considered among one of the toughest motorable passes among adventure lovers. It connects villages of Dodra and Kwar with rest of the world. Calling it off-roading is an understatement!

I was planning a trip to Chail/ Narkanda etc when a friend said - Tourist hai kya? Go and be a man, do Chansal Pass so plans changed. Started from Delhi on 18th Sept with a friend - Tanmoy Mookherjee.

First Break before Chail! Tried some nice juice from this shop of HPTDC
The diversion towards Chail is at Kandaghat and the road is narrow but scenic. The Road is flanked by trees at both sides.

First day we reached Kotghai. Next day we left for Rohru, had breakfast there and started with a determination to conquer Chansal Pass. From Rohru to Chirgaon the roads are good and after chirgaon the roads starts detoriating. The torturous narrow road starts from Tikri with loose sharp stones, mud, steep gradient and loose gravel thrown at you all the same time. Thanks to out lazy start in the morning, we were running behind schedule and time was not in our favor. It was the road where speeds do not matter, short distances are covered as clocks ticks past your estimated times over and over and you have to think – should I see the beautiful vistas or the best line through that muddy section? Should I take a break and click pictures or just keep riding as destination is still far? With this dilemma, we kept the pace pretty consistent riding hard and paving our way through.

Read rest of it on Motoroids Oct 2009 Issue. (Starts at Page 55).

The Fastest Indian - Pulsar 220 DTSi

I recently purchased the 2009 edition Pulsar 220. Pulsar 220 was launched in 2007 with a Fuel Injection. The bike has now lost thte FI and is more price competitive with Karizma but has gaine in terms of performance. I will be posting rides and reviews of long term ownership experience of the bike.

Being an Uncle

Through my blog - which a lot of people do not read, I have shown my love for motorcycles, my love for travelling and my love for being unemployed and hatred for some politicians. 

I am now going to share something which is very close to my heart at the moment - Being a Chacha! Yes, my niece who is now 1 year and 4 months old is a total darling. 

Born on February 18th 2008, I met her on 27th December 2008. She was 8 months old. She did cry when she first saw me. 

We got along well soon afterwords. After all I was her coolest uncle! 

I was soon changing diapers, was feeding her cerelac and milk, taking her for drives and spoiling her. 

Whenever I was in Delhi the foremost reason for me to go to Rae Bareli was to see her. Soon she started walking. If a kid does not walk, everyone is worried - "Kab chalegi yeh isse 3 mahiney choti ladki chalne lagi hai!"! "When will she start walking?". Then one day she takes her first step. There is joy all around. Phone calls are made, everyone is informed of the feat and then.......no one rests! 

She walks a lot. Its very hard to keep in fixed on the chair or anywhere for that matter. She would go to Kitchen, go to the study, try to find me in my room or just walk. No she does not walk, she runs everywhere she goes. She does not run to win races or medals, she just runs -  just like Forrest Gump! So trust me, if you have a baby in the household (especially if she is your niece/ nephew) you do nto want them to be walking very soon! Becos everytime she runs off somewhere, I hear Bhabhi's voice -  "Dhairya, just see where Aadya is going". And I have to go away from the TV just to miss Roger Federer make than record breaking championship point shot! 

But its pure joy. The innocence in her eyes, that cute smile and the sweet voice can melt the toughest people on earth. She has this habit of ringing the cordless from the base and then handing over to you pretending someone is calling. I was taken for a ride by a 18 month old! 

Being an uncle is great. I love it. 

Some political views - I hate the 'Sena's'.

I know its a biker blog but I could not help but express my views about politics as India goes to elections. 

India, a rising economy whose strength lies in vast human capital, diversity (and unity within it), educational institutions and entrepreneurial spirits of Indians. However some forces are trying to destroy two of these factors: human capital and unity of diversity. These forces are the so called 'Moral Police', 'Community protectors' and all that BS. I am talking about all the so called 'Sena's': 

'Shiv Sena', 'Manav Nirman Seva', 'Ram Sen' etc. 

Yes I hate them I hate them from my guts. They are a terrorist organisation. They harm the country more than any other terrorist organisation because they live within us. They travel in buses and trains with us and one say they start beating us because either we are not from the state or some community or because some of us are women. First India was divided because of religion then political parties for their vote bank tried to divide us based on caste and then now MNS and the #$@#$@#$ Raj Thackarey are trying to divide based on states and another #%#%# muthalik based on gender. Now Shiv Sena is trying to make sure that a terrorist friend of their's - Kasab does not get a trial and are doing unconstitutional things. The reason they attacked Lawyer Anjali Waghmare is because they want the terrorist to go scot free. I am sure they know (atleast their good for nothing chief Bal Thackarey knows) that if Kasab does not get a trial he can not be convicted and its constitutionally correct to provide him with a Lawyer. Where were these so called 'sainiks' when Mumbai was being attacked? Why did they not form an army and fight the terrorist? Because they were hand in glove with them. Am i accusing Bal Thackarey to be a terrorist? Yes I am. He should be probed and I am sure he can be linked to come terrorist organisation. 

Then there is that rascal called Raj an his own terrorist organisation called MNS. He is trying to divide the country based on states. Who gave him the right to beat up innocent students just because they were from Bihar? Isn't that act an act of terrorism? 

Lets not talk about Muthalik. Enough has already been said about him. He will be busy counting the pink chaddis he received.

My biggest agony is that these terrorists are not arrested and kept in jails forget about giving them a death penalty which they so very much deserve. They cause damage to Indian Constitution everyday. 

Please do not vote for any of them. Lets not give power to the terrorists.    

Please forward the link to my blog to Bal Thackarey and his terrorists, Raj and his team of numb skulls. I want them to read this.