To heaven and back!

It was dark and I was sitting on the balcony. I could feel the chill eating through my bones. I was in the majestic hill station of Coorg, popularly known as the Scotland of India. We were eight of us, and six were already deep into their sleep. The two of us, were nocturnal creatures. We knew that nature was beautiful by day, but wonderful by night. The moon, though hiding behind the clouds, had lit the night sky with eye blinding white.

It’s amazing how many different sounds you can hear at night, the chirping of crickets, the intervals at which the wind blows causing the leaves to dance, as if to usher in the moonlight, the gentle flow of water from a stream nearby. The pathway which could be seen from our balcony was illuminated by bright yellow light. From where we were sitting, the path looked never ending. Every now and then, we would see people walk that path, like lost souls on a never ending path. Just sitting there, not doing anything, not thinking anything, looking into the darkness, was enough to move me to my soul. I wondered if this is what it would feel like in heaven. There was a thin blanket of fog surrounding us, and my every thought was lost in it.

God blessed this place with all of beauty and splendor. Time flew as we sat there. We were not aware of how long we had been sitting there. A gentle breeze, the song of the earth, brought joy to the flora around us. Even in the darkness, we could see the brightly colored flowers. There were thousands of them, in every possible color a person could think of. Just like these flowers, even in the coldest of weather, were at their best, I was determined to be positive, at any troubled point in my life. A small beep on my cell phone reminded me of the time, and I decided to retire for the night.

There is something inexplicable about hill stations. It stirs up emotions in you, which you thought never existed. You would find peace. You would feel lost in its endless beauty, and you just cannot get enough of it. I feel that a journey is incomplete if you don’t take anything from it. It can be anything from something as simple as memories, or something as complex as a very important realization. For four semesters my friends and I have visited different places, and learnt different things, but never have we visited a place like Coorg, a place with eternal beauty and wisdom. Never have I felt so connected with nature as I have here. It was as though nature, through its different ways, was conveying a message to me. I returned a much wiser person, knowing that nature is, at all times, watching over me.

Nature at its best-Ghatikallu!

Another long, hectic semester ended, with the final exams being one of the most terrible ones I’ve written in a long time. All this made me crave for another trip to Mother Nature, where its grandeur would rejuvenate me, and gear me up for the next semester.

The 4 of us, the intelligent one, the manipulative one and the dumb one, and of course me, felt the need to fulfill the adventure cravings within us. This time, we had another addition to the team, and that person’s label has not been established yet, because labeling him dumber, would be an understatement.

We decided on a place called Ghatikallu, a beautiful hill top.Set in the picturesque surroundings of , an overnight bus journey will get you there. The moment I reached Ghatikallu, I was mesmerized by the sights and sounds of its wonderful surroundings. It was as if god had personally come down, and created that place. The mist, the droplets of water falling from the sky that felt like tiny kisses from heaven, the cute puppies playing in our laps was just too much for two eyes to take.

After a quick wash, we had the most filling, the most delicious breakfast EVER! That’s the best part about eating different food. We get bored of eating the same thing over and over again. And once in a while, there comes a welcome change. Our guide, who by far is the best I’ve ever come across, laid out the plan for the day. We were to ride in a 4X4 to 1500 year old temple, and proceed from there to the trek.

After an awesome ride through the woods, and slushy ‘road’, we reached the temple, which stood majestically in the middle of nowhere. Legend has it that the rocks and carvings were first assembled below the mountain, and then brought up and assembled. When one goes there, one can only think as to how on earth the kings of those times ever manage to bring those huge rocks on top. As soon as I entered the temple, I felt this sense of tranquility and peace, which I never had felt before. I just wanted to sit in that temple and close my eyes, and never get up. I was finally in touch with my soul. After a puja, we headed towards the trek.

Words will not describe my feelings about the trek. The English language has not many adjectives to describe the beauty of the place where we went trekking. We climbed to the second highest peak in Karnataka, and it was simply superb. As we stood at the top, we could see the fog, travelling towards us, to engulf us. It was as if there was a nuclear explosion somewhere and the smoke from the explosion was travelling towards us, only it was not harmful. As soon as the fog hit us, it turned into droplets of water, and yet again, we felt the tiny kisses of heaven. It was one of the best moments of my life, standing atop the second highest peak, with my friends, and all of nature's beauty surrounding us. Our guide told us that right below where we stood, was once a fort. It was really difficult to believe what he was telling us, as it was impossible for us to imagine how on earth the people of those times developed methods to cut though hard rock.

The next day, also our last day, we went to a splendid waterfall, which thanks to the rain, was full of crystal clear water. How we played in the water! It was as though we were little kids again. After that wonderful experience, we came back for what I call the 'feasts of feasts', the best lunch we've had in a long time. After that feast, we went to a coffee and tea estate, but since we were running short of time, we did not explore that place completely. Nevertheless, it was a good walk through the estate.

When the time came for our departure, I was overcome with emotion. I longed to stay, and not leave, for who would want to leave all the nature's loveliness and get back the hectic, polluted life in the city. Maybe thats what made the trip so wonderful. Knowing that we would come back here some day, to escape the city life, to let the fog engulf us, and to feel the little kisses from heaven.

Good soft skills:your ticket to success!

In today's world, for a student, who just graduated, it is very difficult to find a job, based purely on his/her's technical knowledge. Everyone who passes out of a reputed engineering college is bound to have a very strong knowledge base in their respective fields. But what really companies look for is the soft skills that prospective employee possess. It is a now established fact that, having good soft skills will give one the edge needed over his/her peers at the workplace.

Soft skills are basically the skills that are required by one for their personal development. These include team work, attitude, grooming, listening skills, time management, communication skills. First and foremost, communication skills are very important. It is very necessary for one to know how to talk fluently, and effectively. Your peers and your superiors must understand you clearly. Another skill that you need to develop, which is essential at the work place is listening skills. Listening to others, their ideas, is needed at the office, to develop good relations with your colleagues. While on this topic, another skill that comes up is team work. At the workplace, it’s all about team effort, and not individual effort.
Interpersonal skills are skills which keep a healthy relationship between a person and his team mates in the office. With these skills the leader can resolve personal conflicts and personality clashes.
Presentation skills are necessary for people in the corporate side. This may include showing new ideas, products, and reports. In each of these cases, good presentation is necessary. The audience should be able to grasp the idea, or understand the nature of the product.
It is imperative that you should have etiquette at the workplace. You should be well mannered and well behaved. It also includes eating etiquette and the ability to follow procedures in different situations. Being kind and nice is also equally important.
Grooming is one other important skill. You have to make yourself presentable to others. Wearing pressed clothes, a suit, clean polished shoes are signs of good grooming. Having an unshaven face, or unkempt hair, are a big no. People with good grooming are appreciated in all organisations.
Having the right attitude can take you a long way in the organisation. Doing the give task on time, without delays, is appreciated. Having a positive outlook, and good attitude, pushes your chances of being hired.
Time management is also important for a manager. A manager should be a good example to others by setting a high standard on time management. If things are not planned or completed on time, it will have adverse effect on the organisation. In today’s competitive age, everyone is running behind time. It has become a necessity for all companies to work on timely schedules to meet and surpass the competitors.
Another very important skill needed is learning from one's mistakes. It is not possible for an individual to never commit a mistake. He would have done so at one point of his life or another. But the important thing is that he learns from it. He should realise what happened and how he can avoid making such a mistake in the future. Such an individual, will have the edge over his peers at the workplace.

The main question on everybody’s mind is that, ‘can these soft skills, thought to be developed by the individual, be taught to him?’ The answer to that is yes, it can.
Out of the skills listed above, the most difficult to correct are ethics and attitude. Studies show that it takes six to nine months of motivation, extended practice and constant feedback, for ones attitude to change.
Grooming and confidence, on the other hand, are the easiest to alter. Steady practice in small batches of 15-20 students, with people of similar ability carefully chosen and teamed up, giving every individual a chance to speak for 5 to 7 minutes every day brought about tremendous improvement in their confidence. Special workshops conducted by trained grooming instructors, worked too.
Communication skills are not all that easy to change. It takes time, and some special methods have to be followed. In most of the colleges, they employ certain modules of teaching grammar and English. This improved the students’ English, and also sharpened their communication skills.
Also, an everyday reading the newspaper or any other activity like that, could improve the students’ general awareness, and also develop reading habits in them, which is a prerequisite for good communication skills.
Before the students can start working, it is best if they can get a beforehand experience of what their job will be like, probably on a smaller scale. This is where internships come into play. Internships give students firsthand experience of the industry. Colleges also bring in experienced industry experts, who can give advice to students on their careers.

For further information, go to:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/78203/develop-soft-skills-face-career.html

Further to this, after a informative chat with a senior friend of mine from college, these are the few things that I learnt, on developing better skills and also be successful in placements.
-It is very important that I take charge and be proactive. The college, other than imparting education and training me for placements, will not guide me in any other way. Hence, the extra learning, I will have to do on my own.
-Marks are very important. They decide which tests I can write. For a good number of choices in companies, I have to constantly do well in exams.
-Internships are also good exposure. Since the college does not do anything to encourage us to get internships, it is up to me to get one on my own.
-Three skills that were mentioned over and over again were mathematical aptitude, verbal aptitude and also technical skills. These have to be improved on a regular basis, to ensure placement at the end of my college.
-The cut off, normally for any company, is 60% aggregate up to the end of 6th semester. It is necessary for me keep up that score.
-Technical skills can be improved by reading up on topics which are of interest to me. Giving paper presentations will also help (follow up in detail). Taking aptitude tests regularly will help in improving my aptitude. The college also provides training in this regard.
-High salary should not be expected. Given the present situation, I will be lucky if I land a job.
-I have to keep constantly updating myself with the latest information. This can happen through constant reading. Hence developing reading habits is very important.

IPLT20

There comes a time in this country, when there is only word on the lips of the billions. 'Cricket'. Everyone turns out by the thousands to watch two teams fight it out on the pitch. People from different walks of life come and watch this sport. In here, cricket is religion.

In an attempt to marry cricket and entertainment, and a very successful one at that, The IPL T20 cricket tournament was born. There are eight teams, which are owned by famous celebs as well as high level businessmen. Since the very beginning, this form of cricket clicked with the masses, and soon enough, it was hit. Everyone wanted to go the matches, watch and have a blast!

I had been to one of these matches, when the Royal challengers Bangalore were up against Chennai super kings. To be frank, I am not a cricket enthusiast, and the idea of going to the match alone, did not suit me. But nevertheless, since it was a costly ticket, and that this might be the only time I might get to go and watch for free, I decided to go. To get into the spirit of the game, I got myself a Royal challenger fan jersey. Even thought I did not consider myself a fan of the game, I found myself excited. I guess thats the magic of the game. It'll make you a fan, even though you aren't.

After loading up, I set out to the stadium where the match was to be held. As I neared the stadium, the excitement in me grew. There were people waiting in long queues, to get into the stadium. Hawkers were trying to sell all sorts of things, from flags to shirts, trying to make a quick buck. There were some people, getting their face painted, with the logos of their favorite team. Others seemed lost, and were moving hither and thither, looking for the right gate enter through.

I had a corporate box ticket. Once I got into my gate, and sat on my seat, I realized why this sport was loved by all. The euphoria is just awesome. There are hundreds of people, screaming and shouting for their favorite team. The DJ wasted no time, and he started playing some very catchy tunes, to get the crowd moving.

There were two things that made my night. First, the cheerleaders. I truly feel they are the ones that keep the crowd moving. They are hot, and their moves are graceful. They definitely kept ME entertained at all times! Second was the unlimited food. I could go at any point of the match, grab myself a bite of a variety of snacks and savories! As the match proceeded, every ball that was hit for a four or a six, was followed by cheers, screams and every other human form of showings ones excitement and happiness. And not to mention the time wickets were taken. The crowd used to go hysterical!

As I sat there, looking around me, I realized one thing. Cricket is just not any other sport here in India. Its something that the people of this nation share in common. There were people of all ages, communities, and in fact even from different countries. All present there to enjoy the game. Cricket is something that unites us here. Its like the language everyone speaks.

I loved every single moment of that 3 hours i spent in the stadium. Even though I was a little to myself initially, I opened out and started to enjoy the game, like everyone else. It was an awesome experience, and everyone should, at least once, go to a cricket match, and just feel the excitement. The rush when your side needs the last run to win, or when your team needs to take the last wicket.

an incredible trip!

I set out on a fantastic journey, of tedious trekking and of beautiful sights! I've always wanted to go out into the wild, with my friends and experience nature at its best! We were 4 of us, and we embarked on this journey, expecting the unexpected(thought, I must admit, that we didn't come across anything insanely awesome!). On trips like this, its important that you have 3 different types of people travelling with you, to ensure an enlightening experience. Firstly, you need a master manipulator, who can bargain and get you the best prices. Secondly you need a really dumb guy, who can make a real fool out of himself, make the stupid jokes, and acts like a constant source of entertainment. Lastly, you need an intelligent one, who makes the right choices, and makes sure you don't get into any sort of trouble. Once you have these three types of people in your group, your good to go!

The two places we visited were Kollur and Kodachadiri. Kollur is a small temple town, with the very famous Mookambika temple there. Kodachadiri is a peak, and you need to trek for 4 hours to get to the top.

After our brief visit to the temple, and all the pseudo praying, we set out to the starting point for the trek. After a car ride from the town of Kollur, we reached the foothills of Kodachadiri. As we began our long journey to the top, we felt we could do it. 5 minutes into the trek, we all collapsed, begging for water.

The climb to the top was strenuous, yet a wonderful experience. We were surrounded by nature at its best. Humongous trees, birds chirping, leaves rustling when we walked over them. 5 hours, countless number of pit stops later, we reached the summit. We were awe struck, watching the clouds above us, moving ever so slowly. where ever we looked, we could only see mountains and more mountains, covered with trees of all sizes. We stayed at cottage, which by far, I must admit, was my worst stay ever!

We also decided to have a bonfire, in the night of our day. Since we were at an altitude, it was freezing cold there. The bonfire immensely helped in keeping us warm. The nights at such places are amazing! When you lie down, you find your under a billion starts, some scattered, some together. They were all twinkling above us, lighting the sky!

As the night ended, we realized we had very little time on this peak, as we had to head back to town the next day. We had a lovely time on top, having fun, admiring nature's beauty. we vowed to come back here, and stay here for longer, for we had only seen a tiny part.

We had a very busy next morning, since we had to make our return trip back to the town of Kollur. We decided not to climb down thins time, as we knew it'd slow us down, and we would not make it in time. We hired a jeep, which could take us downhill. Riding this jeep, was no joke. The rugged terrain, the sharp rocks jetting out from the sides of the road, and not to mention the steep curves of the road, called for an expert driver. After a very very dusty and bumpy, nevertheless fun ride downhill, we headed back to our hotel, where we had to pack our remaining things, and bid adieu to this lovely small town.

After a quick meal, we found our bus, hopped onto it, hoping that some time later, in the near future, we will visit this place again, and go back to that majestic peak, and sit under the billion twinkling stars....

Driving!!

Every time someone says that 7 lettered word, it sends chills down my spine. Yes, I have a phobia of driving cars. Each time I pictured myself sitting on the drivers seat, holding that steering wheel, a sense of fear would engulf me. The seed of this fear was sown in me when I was 7 years old. While I was trying to cross the road, a rider on a bike, obviously oblivious to the fact that the signal was showing red, which in many parts of the world, means stop, rammed into my right leg. Ever since then, I've feared crossing roads, riding bikes and cars. Its been long since that incident, and I've gotten over most of my fears. I do not fear crossing roads any longer, though I must admit that I do occasionally hesitate, when I find myself in the middle of the road, and surrounded my cars and trucks with their monstrous horns! That is the thing about India. If you hesitate for a moment while crossing a rod, you either get killed of abused. And if your really unlucky, you wont understand what they are saying.

I found it hard to believe that, even though that fateful accident took place ages ago, my phobia of driving never went. I cannot see myself not driving, because it has become a necessity now. One cannot always rely on buses and autos, and it is very important for one to have an independent means of transport, be it a car or a bike. So keeping that in mind, I decided to learn driving.

I enrolled myself in classes. The first day, when I had to drive, was a NIGHTMARE!!!! Oh god, how I sweated, and shook. The only thing that gave me the confidence and the strength to carry on was that my mother was behind me, sitting in the back seat. It was a harrowing experience, on that I will never forget. Its still a mystery, how I came out of the car in one piece!

I never thought i'd never learn driving. I always felt it was something beyond my reach. But here I am, done with 5 classes, and still going strong. I don't shiver anymore, when I sit on the driver's seat and reach out for the steering wheel. I realized that, if I have to learn anything, I must first remove the fear of not learning. Then only, will the learning process take place.