Best morning of 2007
This weekend Gina and I, along with three of our friends who work in Bombay (Mikey, Kristine and Thom), went hiking in the Sahyadris. We went to the top of Rajgadh fort, around 70 kms away from Pune, which used to be a favourite destination of mine at one time, but which has gotten to be a little too crowded for a hiking spot now. However, we were lucky that we camped out in the open on the top level of the fort (on a small plateau known as Bale Killa) which doesn't have any form of shelter, so we were alone there at night. It was one of the best times I have spent recently. We lit a camp fire and listened to fine Austrian music (courtesy Mikey) while we ate and talked.
I woke up the next morning to witness the best sunrise of 2007 which, being loyal to my dear readers in that very special way that I am, I caught on camera for you; I hope that you will enjoy it as much as we did. It was truly worth the three hours of climbing in the scorching heat (carrying sleeping bags, tents, food and water in our backpacks) that we had to undergo.
Adios.
14 Comments:
I trekked there once during monsoon. It was great. We stayed inside the temple on the fort which was full of cowdung. Also, they had told us that the fort was crowded with snakes that come out during the night. Consequently, it was not a very sleep-filled night for us. Nice picture. What is that lake in the background?
Gawker: It is a very nice trek. I have done it 7 times, Torna 4 times and Rajgadh-Torna twice. I did sleep in the temple that you mentioned once. It had completely broken down two years back, but the government tourism department has built a new structure there, without cowdung or snakes. I saw two snakes this time, thought very briefly. Once I carried firewood from Padmawati Machi all the way up to Bale Killa, and when I threw the log on the ground, three big black scorpions crawled out of it. Gave me the heebie jeebies. The next time you are in Pune, we could do the trek once again. The lake in the background is Bhatghar lake, if I am not mistaken.
Why does everyone incessantly remind me that I haven't seen my own country nearly enough and that I ought to... We're all planning to head out to some place between delhi and jaipur that starts with an 'a'...
renovatio: You planning to go to Alwar?
Nice pic! I wish I'd had more chances to tour India. Now I am not sure I will ever get a chance :( When you visit only for 4 weeks, every 4 years and the time has to be divided equally among relatives, you ain't got that much left for sightseeing :( **SIGH**
a) I must explore my own country a LOT more and
b) I must coerce myself into transforming into a morning person.
Or atleast a wake-up-earlier-than-noon person.
Sigh.
Yes! Alwar! That's what it's called... now if only I can pry a free weekend out of the guys...
and then they tell me they'll take a weekend off if I do...bastards...
and punkster, I have a theory on morning people... they don't exist... they're just people who go through their mornings on purpose :D
@ renovatio: Really? Ive secretly harbored the notion that morning people weren't really 'morning people' to begin with because I mean, nobody can really be that psyched to wake up! But hey, I'm leaning towards your little theory too. Hee.
gettingthereno: You should at least see the US while you can. :)
punkster: You should explore this country a lot more (even I should, I have not explored it much at all), and getting up before noon should be because of a need, not because of a philosophy or because some morons are doing that.
renovatio: Now, why would someone want to go to Alwar? And you have to ask your friends to take weekends off? What is your line of work? Call Amnesty International now.
renovatio: That will be $5 for talking to a fellow commentor and ignoring the author of the blog completely.
punkster: That will be $5 for you too. AS for morning people, that is a misnomer. Morning people are actually absent minded insomniacs -- they forget to lie awake at night so they try to make up early in the mornings.
Very nice picture anurag, though slightly grainy at ISO1600. I love how there is no boundary between the ground and the sky!
Thanks for dropping by Anurag, I just posted another puzzle for your err.. puzzlement.
next post is long due !!
Moonie
ra.ge: I agree that pics become too grainy at ISO 1600. I recently decided not to push beyond 400.
moonie: I know. Was too tied up at work and too tired after it to post anything.
Post a Comment
<< Home