Apocalyptic Vision of Global Terrorism

A series of explosions rocked Delhi on Saturday evening, killing at least 65 people and leaving scores injured some of them critically. Most of those injured or killed in the explosions were ordinary people out shopping in the festival season.

Just when the entire country was getting ready to soak in the holiday spirit and enjoy Diwali, along comes another attempt to make the country shake with a possible terror attack on crowded markets and a DTC bus in Delhi. This is terror tactic at its best-hit innocent people where it hurts the most to get others to sit up and take notice. Hence the carefully planned attacks--on a bus, in a busy market. But India and Delhi has been through worse and this can only harden the people's resolve to stay together and repulse all attempts to make them cower.

Of course the proximity to Eid and Diwali seems significant - most probably so that the group behind this could inflict the most amount of injuries and garner more publicity. They wished to strike whilst their target’s guard was down.

The other seemingly obvious clue as to the timing of the bombs are the current unprecedented peace talks between India and Pakistan. We can only hope these aren’t derailed by this unfortunate tragedy. One of the talks’ main objectives was to discuss and agree upon a policy of opening up the Line of Control (LoC) to facilitate relief efforts in the aftermath of the Kashmir earthquake.

Himalayas....So Inspiring

One word makes the adventurer in me hold my breath in anticipation… one word makes the naturalist in me to think of the ideal place to be with nature… one word makes the traveler in me think of an exotic destination… one word makes the pilgrim in me think of salvation……. “Himalayas.” Yes, the Himalayas with its rugged mountain peaks, evergreen forests, bone chilling regions, important temples, makes it an ideal destination for everyone, a traveler, a pilgrim or a hardcore adventurer.

Yes the Himalayas are very dear to me, and always will be, I grew up in a small village in the Himalayas ....we did not have electricity till I was almost 8 and we got running water when I was almost 12, so life was not very easy. We had very limited exposure to the outside world, and what ever we learnt as kids was through radio (satellite dishes n television came there in the early 90’s) or the newspaper which we got late in the afternoon or the next day. Sports used to be limited to very few things because there was no infrastructure and cricket used to be played on the local road because that was the flattest piece of ground around.

(A Typical Himalayan Village)

Something big started happening around in the dusty roads around us in the early Eighties….. and it was not small, it was the only International motor sports event in India and this was the Himalayan Car Rally. Big factory teams from across Europe n Japan lined up to show there power on the Himalayas….and show they did. And that’s when the motor sports bug bit me.

The Himalayan Car Rally Died in the early 90’s lack of sponsorship……and the Himalayas remained silent till 1999 and another event “Raid De Himalaya” was born… The Raid de Himalaya is India's longest, toughest and the world's highest Motor sport adventure. It is the only Indian Motor sport event running on an International Permit for 7 years now. I happened to participate in the early events but haven’t done so lately….but I follow it closely because of it closeness to the Himalayas and a lot of my old buddies are involved in it.

(Tanglang La 5359 m, 17,582 feet)

Some of you would think…. Why would people, to all appearances sane and healthy, dart around mountainsides for 2,000 km, in howling cars and on screaming bikes, over what is arguably the toughest terrain in the world, at speeds that would make hair of most people, stand on end?

The answer my friends, Motorsport is not only about speed and mud ... it is a lot more ... it is also includes endurance, faith in ones self, trust in the team, and the machine, rising above fear, perfect coordination and also the Unexpected. It is more of a mental and physical game where one braves cold, hunger, sleep deprivation, oxygen starvation and general ill health for a few days....and then goes back and tells the world they had the time of their lives!! (Well isn’t that true about GMAT too!)

(Hostile Terrain, Look at the Lack of Vegetation)

The biggest challenge on the event is always the harsh nature, low temperatures and lack of oxygen, which causes Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).This health condition, if not managed appropriately, can cause coma and eventually death. It can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, and physical condition.AMS happens only at high altitudes above 2,438m., and since the event is mostly at altitudes higher than this and sometimes at heights of up to 6,000m it becomes a serious mental and physical block, AMS is brought on by the body’s inability to cope with a reduced amount of oxygen. As we ascend, the air thins out and there’s less number of oxygen molecules per breath.

(yours truly in Action)

This year’s event ran the whole first week of October a distance of more than 2000 Kms. From Shimla to Srinagar, over some of the toughest terrain in the world…. Traveling over some of the major passes on the way
Jalori Pass 3223m (10,574)
Rohtang pass 4268m (14,002)
Kunzum 4598m (15,085)
Baralacha 4883m (16,020)
Lachhulungla 5064m (16,616)
Tanglangla 5359m (17,582)
Fatula 4108m (13,479)
At the end of it all a mere 53 seconds separated the first from the second, I can imagine how these guys must have driven there hearts out. Kudos to Eveyone who finished and partcipated.... it is this spirit that I salute to.

Booked my date to face the BEAST

I finally registered to take the GMAT on 10th Nov., so that gives me a little over a month of study time......I ve been thinking of writing the exam since June but something always came up... or maybe I was just plain Lazy.

So today morning I decided it is now or never......and since the first round deadline for one of my favorite schools is Nov 30, I wanted to make sure that the scores reached the school in time. I am also working on the essays these days....but I plan to go a little slow on them for the near future and concentrate on taming the beast.

Also I was a lil angry today when I signed up...coz we have to pay a federal tax to write the GMAT here in Canada....... tax even on educational stuff, and they give freebies to addicts...I just don't get it as to what path is this country headed.

N'ways I ll need some tips for verbal from all you guys...So if you have anything on your mind, please do forward it to me. Good Luck to all the fellow bloggers who have deadlines around the corner.

take care
Paa"ji"